Category: Sports

Ahead of the Nov. 24 opening of the Games Village for the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged `Eko 2012’, plumbing works at the Federal College of Education (Technical) have yet to be fully rectified.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who toured the ongoing renovation works at the hostels, reports that plumbing works were in disarray as several taps re-installed at the venue were not functioning.

A visit to the institution by NAN revealed that some water channels had not been fixed while some water reservoirs had no water. It was gathered that water only runs at some ground floors of the hostel, while the first floors of most of the six hostel accommodation did not have water.

No plumber was sighted at the venue as at the time of the visit, which was an apparent indication that the plumbing works might have misjudged completed.

One of the plumbers in the Institution’s Maintenance Unit who pleaded anonymity told NAN that most of the things promised to be done at the site had yet to be done. It said that plumbing machines that the LOC promised to install to facilitate supply water had yet to be installed.

“Athletes that will be accommodated in the institution may not enjoy good water supplies, particularly those to be upstairs, because of the non-functioning of the pumping machines. We made suggestions, where necessary, to officials that came to find out the situation on ground, so that the athletes for the games will have a happy stay here. I do not know if plumbers have finished or not, but what I see now is not a good job,’’ the source said.

The six halls earmarked to accommodate contingents are: June 12, Newest, Liberty, Sowore, ETF, Solidarity and Great February Halls.

With just four days to the opening of the 18th National Sports Festival, the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, the main venue for the Games has remained littered with filth.

A visit to the facility by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday showed that its “J Section’’ that had some toilets reeked of an offensive smell. NAN reports that some persons who attempted to gain entry into the main bowl of the stadium through the section were hit by the stench from the toilets.

The section has four toilets inside and two outside, with urine and solid waste littering their floors, making the toilets to appear as if they have been abandoned. It was also observed that the “Gate B” Section of the stadium was also in a filthy condition, not befitting a National Sports Festival venue.

There were cobwebs everywhere, while greenish mucus littered some sections of the floor. The renovation of the edifice was, however, still ongoing, especially painting, which seemed to be progressing a rather slow pace. Rehabilitation of the swimming pool section was also going on, but journalists could not gain access because it was locked.

NAN reports that the entire outer spaces of the stadium were littered with refuse, from disposable plates and other rubbish generated from the ongoing renovation. However, a few cleaners were sighted struggling to clear the refuse heaps.

When contacted, Kweku Tandoh, Secretary-General, Local Organising Committee (LOC) told NAN that the garbage would be cleared by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) before the Games open on Nov. 27.

NAN also reports that dummies of sea animals like the tortoise were on display, to add colour to the Games in which all the states of the federation are expected to participate. Also, artists were seen in the main bowl making some artistic designs and inscriptions of “Eko 2012’’ on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Tandoh had told journalists on Thursday that all facilities required for the Games were ready.

He disclosed this at a pre-sports festival seminar, tagged “National Sports Festival: A Driver for Social, Economic and National Development,” held at the Shell Muson Centre in Lagos.

The Akwa Ibom contingent to the 18th National Sports Festival, “Eko 2012,’’ on Friday lamented the poor state of facilities for the preparation of their athletes for the festival. The 14-day festival kicks off in Lagos on Nov. 27.

Some of the athletes, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that they were not excited at some of unfulfilled promises earlier made to them. They said that in spite of promises of new training equipment, none was purchased.

The athletes claimed that between now and the Games, the time was too short for the State government to be able to redeem all its promises, before the contingent left for Lagos. Some of the athletes also claimed that they had not been eating good food since their arrival in camp. “We are here because we want to showcase our talents to the world’’.

However, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Ita Udoh, in a reaction, pleaded with the athletes to manage whatever was made available to them at the training venue, noting that government would soon address some of their challenges. The commissioner later said that in spite of a few hiccups being experienced, the State would win more medals from the festival.

Udoh claimed that the athletes were set to put in more efforts in some sports where they had competitive edge, to make the State proud. Akwa Ibom placed eight on the overall medals table at the 17th edition of the festival, tagged “Garden City Games’’ which was staged in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital in 2011.

NAN also gathered that as part of plans to encourage the contingent, Gov. Godswill Akpabio will address the athletes before their scheduled departure to Lagos on Nov. 24.

With just three days to the commencement of the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), the Abalti Barracks venue for Kokowa and Dambe (traditional sports) seems not to be ready.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development has put the authorities in a quandary of sort. A routine visit by NAN to the venue revealed that nothing was on ground to indicate that an event of the magnitude of the NSF was due to take place at the venue.

NAN reports that, Emmanuel Egenamba, the Technical Director, Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria, had called for the fixing of the facility during an inspection tour. The tour which took place under the auspices of the Main Organising Committee on Nov.9 ratified the Teslim Balogun Sports Bar for Ayo Olopon, while the National Stadium was endorsed for Langa.

In the same vein the venue for Abula at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Abalti Barracks for Kokowa and Dambe were also ratified. According to him, Abalti Barracks was chosen for Kokowa and Dambe because of the combative nature and the security in the barracks.

“I want to commend the Lagos State Government for picking Abalti Barracks for Langa and Dambe because the two are combat sports. We have been having problems with the choice of venue due to the nature of the two sports. So, the approved venue is appropriate to demonstrate the events. However, only the field is available. There is nothing on ground now. We need a ring of 25m and white sharp sand, to make the venue ready for use,’’ he said.

Egenamba however urged the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to make the Kokowa, Dambe and Abula venues ready before the commencement of the tournament. NAN reports that works at the Abula venue at UNILAG was still ongoing with the floor, poles and nets being fixed.

Ahead of the kick off of the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos, roads leading to some of the Games Villages now have reactivated street lights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was on a route tour of streets leading to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Friday reports that the development was part of measures to illuminate the streets in a bid to help the round the clock security during the festival.

NAN reports that visitors to the campus would not be left in doubts that some big event was in the offing.

Some contractors were sighted hastening up work in order to fix about five more electricity poles to the UNILAG main gate. It was also observed on the Herbert Macaulay Way; en route the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre at Sabo, Yaba that the area now had street lights restored.

At the sports centre, it was observed that the complex had become an edifice to behold with the transformation still ongoing. Workers were also seen under the hot Lagos sun striving to meet their

different work deadlines at the volleyball, handball and basket ball courts.

The road leading to Yaba College of Technology, another Games Village was also not left out in the beautification exercise, ahead of the festival opener.

The contractors were also seen on the St. Finbarrs Road leading to the Federal College of Education (Technical), the third Games Village re-installing the street lights. The festival opens Nov. 27.