NUGA Games 2017: Uniport win swimming event in Abuja

swimming

Swimming

University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday in Abuja emerged winners of the swimming competition of the ongoing 25th edition of the Nigeria University Games (NUGA) holding in Makurdi.

The University of Port Harcourt won after clinching 22 gold, 21 silver and 11 bronze medals at the end of the two-day competition at the Abuja National Stadium.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25th NUGA Games is being hosted by the University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM).

The swimming event of the Games is holding in Abuja because both the hosts and organising body NUGA failed to find a venue for the event in Makurdi or anywhere nearby.

In the competition, Benson Idahosa University came second with eight gold, five silver and six bronze medals while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) came third with one silver and two bronze.

Speaking after the competition, Spino Spiff, the University of Port Harcourt swimming coach, attributed his team’s performance to God and the athletes’ discipline.

“We came this far because my players performed according to instructions and God crowned their efforts,’’ he said.

Godbless Joseph, Captain of University of Port Harcourt swimming team, said the team prepared adequately for the competition.

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“I feel very excited and great. And I give all glory to God who had made it possible.

“We had been training very hard and our Director of Sports took very good care of us. We also have good facilities which allowed us to train properly for the event,” he said.

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Tony Achugbe, Chairman, NUGA swimming organising committee, said 12 universities participated in 30 events in the competition.

Achugbe however called on the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria to ensure the proper cleaning of all its facilities.

“No records have been set yet, but I think this is because of the poor facilities, like accommodation and environment.

“So many of the athletes were properly taken care of by their schools but the condition of the facilities here is not good enough.

“However, that notwithstanding, the athletes are happy with the event,” he said.

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