The Commissioner for Sports in Abia, Dr. Martins Okoji, says Team
Abia will compete in 22 games at the National Sports Festival holding in
Abuja from Dec. 6.
The commissioner made the disclosure on Wednesday when he received
the NSF Unity Torch for the 19th edition of the games at the Umuahia
Township Stadium.
Okoji expressed joy that the torch arrived safely at Abia, saying
that the ritual had further rejuvenated the ministry and athletes in
their preparations for the tournament.
He said that the state would improve on its performance at Ilorin, where they came fifth in the overall medals table.
“Team Abia are ready to take on the rest of the states of the federation at the festival,” Okoji said.
Also, the Director of Sports, Mr Isaac Isaac, said that the state was
set for the event, having just concluded its week-long trials for the
athletes.
Isaac said that the council commenced early preparations so that it
could possibly organise open camping for the athletes, if funds were
made available early.
“We hope to surpass our last record at Ilorin or replicate our
performance,” he said, adding that they aspired for the first five
positions in the overall medals table.
It will be recalled that Abia garnered seven gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals at Ilorin.
One of the athletes, Eke Kalu, a short put specialist, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team had been training hard for the
event.
Kalu, who threw 18.79 metres to place fourth at the just-concluded
African Championship at Asaba, Delta capital, said that Team Abia
sustained their training after the championship.
NAN reports that the National Sports Festival Unity torch was handed
over to Abia by Mrs Jane Owoh, the South-East Zonal Coordinator, Federal
Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Owoh, who was represented by Mrs Lydia Eze, a senior official of the
ministry, said that the torch came from Ebonyi and would move from Abia
to Imo.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by top management staff of the state
Ministry of Sports, including the Director of Sports Development, Mr
Sunny Ogele.
