By Amaechi Agbo

The Acting Director, FCT Sports Council, Luka Istifanus has disclosed that athletes from FCT won wins medal at the 2020 National Sports Festival, NSF will be rewarded greatly.

Mr Luka who stated this in an exclusive interview with Bestchoicesports.com.ng midweek said the council is poised to reward the medal winning athletes as part of motivations to spur them to work harder.

“I got a confirmation on Friday that the 2020 National Sports Festival which has suffered several postponements will now hold from April 2 to 14, 2021 in Benin, Edo State.

We communicated to the minister who asked us to mobilise our athletes to camp immediately. He directed that we should commence preparation with immediate effects.

“We have submitted our budgetary proposal for the festival and it is being looked into. Release of money has a lot of procedures. But we have submitted our budget for the festival and since they asked us to start preparation, they we are expecting approval.

“On two occasions, the FCT have given lands to athletes, officials who won laurels at the National Sports Festival. The immediate past 19^th edition hosted in Abuja, FCT co-hosted, in September, the FCT appreciated those who won medals.

“We started the camping on Monday and on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary sent a message that he would come to inspect the players, facilities and hostels at the complex.

“Athletes who won gold in single event got N300, 000 while team sports got N150, 000. Silver medallist in individual events were given N200, 000 while team event that won silver got N100, 000.

“Individual athletes who won bronze got N100, 000 while bronze medallists in team evets were given N50, 000.

“The athletes and officials appreciated the gesture were very delighted when they got the money.

“I want to believe that something bigger will be given to them this year. Our recommendation for this year’s edition is very much far more than what was given last year. We recommended so many incentives for those who are going to win medals in Edo,” he said.

He added the council is ready for the festival as they have been training since the competition was postponed in February

“We are ready for the festivals. We started preparation since the February dates were postponed. We did not relent in our training programmes. We have been training all this while what you are witnessing today is the beginning of the closed camp where athletes are going to stay together in the hostel and intensive their training programme.”