Commissioner Tasks RSFA On Talent Hunt

In order to ensure that Rivers State boasts abundant talents in football, the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe has urged the State Football Association (SFA) to scout for hidden talents in local government areas.

Igwe stated this when the state FA board paid him a courtesy visit in his office last week in Port Harcourt.

He called on them to initiate competitions that would create avenues for talent hunt in the state.

“I want the FA to go to local government areas to scout for talents and to development grassroots football.

“Not only that, I also want you to liaise with the Director of Administration in the ministry to initiate competitions that would create an avenue for talent hunting” Igwe said.

The Commissioner debunked the allegation that his ministry is a ministry of Football and not for all sports.

He explained that his administration would not give priority to any particular sport, and said that all sports would be treated equally.

“I know that people tend to accuse us that the ministry is for football. Football, is however, the king of sports in this part of the world, it is also a game a lot of people have interest in.” he stated.

Hon. Igwe pledged that he would continue to partner with the FA to develop football in the state and beyond.

Speaking earlier, the Vice-chairman of the state FA, Chief Omineokuma Kile, who led the delegation, appealed to the Commissioner to always assist the association with funds to enable them operate effectively.

Chief Kile noted that the ministry did not show much regard for the FA in the past, a situation he described as being hard for their operations.

He also urged the Commissioner to accommodate the youth, who may put a lot of pressure on him with one demand or the other.

Tonye Orabere