The Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Council, Mr Tony Ugwu, has told Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State to redeem his pledge to Nsukka people to build a stadium for them to boost sporting activities in the area.

Ugwu made the call at Nsukka at the closing ceremony of a football tournament, “Mayor’s Cup 2011 Football Tournament’’, competed for by youth teams in Nsukka Local Government Area.

The chairman, who is the sponsor of the tournament, said the siting of a stadium in Nsukka would help in fishing out hidden talents in sport as well as empower youths in the area.

“Nsukka has hidden sports talents who can perform like Nwankwo Kanu and Austin J. J. Okocha but have yet to be discovered.

“With a stadium in Nsukka, the level of crime will reduce as youths will invest most of their time in sporting actives.

“There will be improvements in the economy as more laurels will be won for the country in sports,” he said.

The council chairman said the tournament would be an annual event, noting that improvements would be made in future tournaments.

“By God’s special grace, this football event will be organised annually by Nsukka LG as a way of empowering youths to take to sports,” he said.

He thanked the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the tournament for their wonderful planning and performance, which he said made the football event a success.

In a remark, Chime said that the state’s huge investment in sports was to empower youths as well as identify hidden talents.

Chime who was represented Barth Ezeugwu, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Youth Empowerment and Mobilisation said the state’s youth empowerment was not only through sports, but also in agriculture and education.

“The state is happy with Nsukka LG for keying into the programme,” he said