By IME BASSEY

Special adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Sports, Akin Akinbobola has said that team Ondo at the point of departure was charged to finish amongst the top three on the medals table at the on going National Sports festival, Garden City 2011.

The Ondo State born sport administrator said team Ondo dominates  the medals table in basketball, swimming, athletics and boxing.

He also expressed disappointment on the state’s football team not participating in the festival, stressing that, he would have been sure of a gold medal.

“The performances of Ondo State in previous years are a measurement of the devotion of the previous Government to sports development in the state. Since the Mimiko regime, the state is no more a back bencher, it can be ranked now amongst the best state in sport developments.

“When the team was leaving, a charge was given by the Governor ably represented by the Chief of Staff; he told them that Ondo State must be amongst the best three  at the end of the festival. Don’t forget that, Ondo State is the first to have an international size Olympic swimming pool. We have upgraded almost all our sporting facilities and our athletes have been in camp for the festival for more than two months. So we are expecting the team to come third if they can’t top the medals table.

“He is the best sports Governor in the country, particularly as it pertains to grassroots sports. The sports festival is an event basically meant for grassroots sports development,” Akinbobola said.

On the strength of the state in the festival, the head of media in the board of the Nigerian Premier league said, “We have a sports agency that pays attention to sports development. It is painful for us that our football team is  not going because of some administrative lapses. I would have been sure of gold in football, but in swimming, athletics (sprint which has been our strength) boxing and basketball. I don’t think we will not come out tops in less than three sports at the games. We actually prepared the team in the various sports we are participating in. Our Governor has imbibed the spirit of winning in the athletes and they all want to match his standard in all their endeavours,”

Asked if the state government will continue to support the team if it performs below expectation at the games, the NPL board member said, “In a situation where we didn’t come out tops in the festival, it will imply that, our initial strategy wasn’t the best. All we will do would be to go back to the drawing board, evaluate and initiate another plan as to how to embark on another preparation for the next sports festival with a view to be amongst the best in the country. We don’t give up on our ambition in Ondo State, Akinbobola stressed.