Port Harcourt -The Rivers State Sports Council says its athletes will defend their title at the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Lagos from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

Mr Barisi Wifa, the Media Officer, Rivers Sports Council, on Monday in Port Harcourt said that Team Rivers would not only make the state proud but remain the pride of Nigeria.

Team Rivers emerged the overall winners of the 17th NSF tagged “Garden City Game” in 2011.

“I cannot say how Team Rivers is preparing but preparations are in top gear.

“We will work hard to ensure that we excel in all events in order to make the state and Nigeria proud.

“I charge the athletes to re-double their effort to enable Rivers to excel at the 18th NSF because we have done it before and we can do it again,” Wifa said.

The official noted that 2012 will be a very busy year for sports in Nigeria because of the forthcoming London Olympics and the national Sports Festival.

He said Rivers would continue to promote sports and produce talents that would represent the country internationally. (NAN)