…As Commissioner laments restriction of athletes
By: Felix Ikpotor
As the ongoing 2024 Public Service Games, FEPSGA, continues in Port Harcourt, Team Rivers have continued to record more victories especially in track and field events and swimming.
On Monday, Obia Inyegiyikabo rolled back the years to win women’s 50m backstroke gold in swimming, adding to her victory in 100m freestyle, earlier in the day.
In the Mixed Relay Team Rivers came first at a time of 52:22 seconds beating Nigeria Ports Authority to second as they finished in a time of 55:7s while Team Federal Inland Revenue Service finished third with a time of 56:62s
Also, in the Women’s 800m Final Team Rivers’ Nwilene Victoria clinched gold with a time of 3:10:45s while NPA’s Dapmwa Yohanna came second with a time of 3:17:59 while Blessing Kolajo of FIRS came third in a time of 3:30:87.
They repeated same feat in the Mens 400m final as Belly Tonye won gold in a time of 51:29s
while Newman Unazi of Federal Ministry of Youths Development clinched silver with a time of 54:44s
and Chukwu Mathew Ministry of Science and Technology settled for the bronze by finishing at a time of 55:13s.
Team Rivers continued their gold winning streak in the Women’s 4×100 Relay and Men’s 4×100 Relay.
Commenting on Team Rivers’ victory in swimming, the Head of Service of Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke who witnessed the event, commended the team, adding that he never expected anything less from them.
“I didn’t expect anything less than that. This is Rivers State. Every part of the state have river so every person in the state should know how to swim, so I’m very happy for them and I commend them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Chris Green has expressed displeasure that Team Rivers’ athletes are not allowed to compete fully in all events despite the preparations.
He particularly frowned at the decision whereby athletes were restricted to only three events in swimming, saying it is not practicable anywhere in the world.
“In Rivers State, Team Rivers has been in camp for two months and trainning with very qualified coaches in all the events and so when you now come and say you’re limiting for instance swimming, that you’re limiting athletes from competing for not more than three events, it’s not done anywhere in the world. You allow them to compete for as many events they can. But they are now saying that you compete for only three that there are people that can’t really do well so that they can win something to go and show to their directors or whoever is in charge of their parastatals, that’s not sportsmanship,” he lamented.
He said the organisers are afraid of Rivers State winning all the medals saying, “The entire contingents for the events are not being allowed to compete so I can’t say I’m satisfied”.
Our correspondent reports that other results in the track and field events for Monday includes; Women 200m final:
1st: ICPC – Shegnagi Gaji – 30:88
2nd: NPA – Esther Joshua – 32:31
3rd: FIRS – Rahmat Adedokun – 33:60.
Long Jump Women final:
1st: NPA – Amos Chidiebele – 4.23m
2nd: Team Rivers – Boma Orlu – 3.96m
3rd: Science & Tech – Favour Nduka – 3.78m.
Men’s Long Jump final:
1st: Federal Ministry of Agriculture- Antonio Francis – 6.10m
2nd: Science & Tech – Ishiaku Manasseh – 6.02m
3rd: FIRS – Sarumi Sodiq – 5.90m.
Mens 200m finals:
1st: NPA – Muhammed Muktar – 23:57
2nd: FMYD – Jeptha Onwuzuike – 23:70
3rd: ICPC – David Aboh – 25:36s.
Men’s 800m final result
1st: NPA – Jaafaru Bello – 2:15:42
2nd: OSGOF – Davilla Samson – 2:22:37
3rd: Education – Galadima Aminu – 2:22:40.
Mens 100m Final result
1st: FMITI – Emeka John Mark – 10:91s
2nd: FMYD – Jeftha Onwuzulike – 11:19s
3rd: NPA – Mohammed Muktar – 11:61s.
Women’s 100m final:
1st: Education – Oparaji Anabel – 13:53s
2nd: Budget & National Planning – Glory Onyekachi Onyeoguzoro – 13:75s
3rd: ICPC – Shegnagi Gaji – 14:19s.
In basketball, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) won gold in the women’s basketball event while former champions NPA settled for silver.
