By Ben Efe

JUNIOR athlete, Mercy Ntia-Obong has revealed her pain at the dismantling of the Cross River grassroots sports initiative, which produced world class athletes in a space of five years.

Ntia-Obong is a product of the programme a pet project of former Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke. She disclosed during a competition in Lagos that it was unthinkable that a programme, which school kids in Cross River looked up every year could be terminated leaving the talented young athletes in the lurch.

“It was very painful to me that the programme couldn’t be continued. It was that programme that produced so many athletes for the State. We looked forward to the competitions every year, but now there is nothing for us in Cross River.

“Athletes like me were very lucky that we reached national and international limelight. But what about other junior athletes who had promising future in the sports? They have all been disappointed,” said Ntia-Obong who was in the final of IAAF world junior 100m. Her compatriot Eddiong Offonime Odiong, won the 200m gold of that event in Poland running for Bahrain.

Citing financial constraints the present governor, Ben Ayade spiked the programme. But many have argued that it was a matter of interest; sports was not a priority project of the governor they contended.