Nigeria: Akpabio Predicts Good Outing for Olympic Team
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has predicted that Team Nigeria would surpass all previous attempts at the Olympics at the London 2012 Olympics which begins on July 23.
Governor Akpabio said this during a courtesy call on him by members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee led by its President, Sani M. Ndanusa, after the Annual General Meeting of the Olympic movement that held in Uyo.
“If indeed athletes are on training tour and will get used to the weather before the Games, I predict that gold medals for us in the Olympics. I am indeed happy that athletes are training ahead of the Games. There is no short-cut to exposure and get used to the weather. Winning medals depend on serious strategic planning and I am happy that you have taken care of all those areas,” the Governor, who displayed amazing knowledge of sport, told his audience at the new Akwa Ibom State Government house.
The Governor, however, cautioned that those in authority should not toy with sports because it has over time shown that it is the only unifying factor in the country.
“They should not allow quota system or politics to kill Nigerian sports. If there all the good players are from one state or from one family, they should use them instead of trying to reflect federal character and thereby pollute the squad. I still remember in those days when eight or nine players of Rangers International of Enugu formed the bulk of the national team. Nigerians were happy because they were achieving results”.
The Governor promised to deliver a world-class stadium complete with all modern facilities in the state.
President Ndanusa praised the eye-popping developments in the state and promised that the NOC would facilitate the Junior Olympics to be held in Akwa Ibom and also to ensure that Nigerian athletes camp in Akwa Ibom for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil once the state of the art stadium is built. – This Day
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