Some students had to race barefooted at this year’s inter-regional senior high schools sports festival much to the chagrin of some authorities including a coach of the national athletics team, Anselm Nyavedze.

Mr Nyavedze has, therefore, called for a query for regional sports coordinators and physical education (PE) instructors who did not ensure that the students had footwear for the championships. A large number of the athletes had to participate in their individual events barefooted.

“I felt very sad when I saw them,” Mr Nyavedze told 3news.com’s Thomas Cann. “It is uncalled for. The regional PE coordinators should be questioned. At the national competition, athletes running barefoot is not the best at all.”

The athletics coach, therefore, appealed to authorities to make sports attractive to the young ones by providing them with the needed kits. This year’s inter-regional schools sports festival is the 30th edition.

It was held at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium. Lack of sponsorship got some disciplines like volley ball out.

The difficulties escalated to a level where some regions borrowed kits and equipment to participate in some disciplines. But at the end of the competition, Central Region made it a host-and-win, amassing 35 points. Ashanti and Eastern regions came 2nd and 3rd respectively with 48 points and 78 points.

Western (87), Greater Accra (97), Volta (99), Upper East (107), Northern (109), Brong Ahafo (120) and Upper West (152) regions finished the competition in that order. The next edition will be hosted in the Upper East Region.