By Kennedy Onwunali
Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Hon. Etta Lawrence, has expressed satisfaction with the state’s performance at the just concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival in Benin City, Edo State, where Cross River finished sixth overall on the medals table.
The state clinched a total of nine gold, seven silver and 22 bronze medals, a performance Etta Lawrence described as encouraging considering the short preparation period and the rebuilding process currently ongoing in the state’s sports sector.
Etta Lawrence reiterated that when he assumed office, the commission had to begin afresh by scouting for talents across the local government areas due to the absence of a ready pool of competitive athletes.
“We inherited virtually nothing in terms of athletes prepared for major competitions. We had to go back to the grassroots, mobilise our coaches and identify young talents from across the state,” he said.
According to him, the athletes were camped for about one month before the festival, a period he said was instrumental in building team cohesion and sharpening their skills.
He noted that beyond the medal haul, the exposure gained by the young athletes—many of whom were travelling outside the state for the first time—was a significant achievement for the commission.
Lawrence expressed optimism that with sustained grassroots development and continued support from stakeholders, Cross River would soon return to its glorious days in Nigerian sports.
