The 17th National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City Games Champions, Team Rivers may lose it grips on National Sports due to the mass exodus of athletes leaving for other prospective states.
The Newswriter investigation revealed that many athletes have already dumped Team Rivers and have pitched tent with state like Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and others due to the Rivers State government owing the athletes up to 8 months salaries and allowances.
At the time of filing in this report, coaches of Team Rivers and some athletes were seen at the premises of the state sports council contemplating to embark on a peaceful protest to the state government house, in demand of their eight (8) months salaries being owed them by the state government.
It would be recalled that the previous government led by former Governor Amaechi had paid some clamp allowances to even entered camp when the national sports was postponed.
The 19th National sports festival to be host by Akwa Ibom has been postpone severally, leaving the fate of Rivers athletes in the balance as their monthly salaries and allowance were with held as the fate of the Akwa Ibom supposed hosting of the 19th National Sports Festival looks more like a joke.
News reaching The Newswriter sports has it that, the much talked about 19th National Sports Festival will now be held come December this year.
Meanwhile, some potential Team Rivers gold medalists have dumped the state for other states were they feel their welfare packages are sure. While those staying back are being pacified and persuaded to stay back by their coaches, some of the coaches themselves are considering accepting offers from neighbouring state before the December 19th National Sports Festival at Akwa Ibom. If this happens Team Rivers will definitely be depleted.
The few left are training on their own, praying and expecting a change of their fortune as the new governor of the state is seen as a man who believes in sports. And will come to their rescue some day.
The governor paid the back log of Sharks, dolphins and Rivers Angels, players, but athletes were not considered, maybe, the managers of Team Rivers did not present their case or plight to the governor. Immediate past deputy governor was the local organizing committee chairman. ###
