Initiate Sports Dev Programmes, Supporters’ Boss Urges FG

The chairman of Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt supporters club, Asonye Otis, has appealed to the Federal government to initiate comprehensive sports development programmes to enable the country have formidable national football teams at all the categories.

 Otis made the called in an interview with Tidesports in Port Harcourt on Monday following the Federal governments U-turn on its decision to ban Nigeria from international football for two years.

According to him, the development programmes if initiated and implemented would not only build good football teams, but would also make the country become one of the major footballing nations of the world.

“I use this medium to commend the federal government for rescinding its decision on the international football competitions ban. However it should ensure that comprehensive sports development programmes are put in place to enable our football grow,” Otis said.

The supporters club chairman, further appealed to the authorities incharge of football administration to introduce policies that will improve the country’s premier league and make it more attractive, so that private business people can get involved.

“As a journalists, you and I know that our premier league is not encouraging because there are no conscious efforts and willingness to make it strong and attractive.

If policies that are geared towards making the league business – oriented it will come to a stage where businessmen and women will be involved and invest, he added.

Otis, said there is need to investigate the dismal performances of the Super Eagles, at the ongoing South-Africa 2010 World Cup, saying that this would assist the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to know where to make amends.

Tonye Orabere