Sports
Rivers SWAN, Ministry Partner For Sports Dev
The Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe has assured members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State branch of his preparedness to partner with them in the onerous task of sports development in the state.
Hon Igwe, who stated this during a courtesy visit by the executive of Rivers SWAN in Port Harcourt at the weekend, also unfolded plans by the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration to make Rivers State a major destination for all sporting activities.
According to him, under his watch as Commissioner for Sports, he would work assiduously to ensure that the sports ministry is alive to its responsibilities by charting the way forward on issues of sports development.
He revealed that the ministry was already working in conjunction with Ministries of Education and Youths on how to produce a workable sports policy for the state, geared towards developing talented young Rivers people in all aspects of sports.
Hon Igwe further disclosed that the ultra modern Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium is expected to be completed by June this year, pointing out that the management and maintenance of the edifice may be outsourced to ensure the facilities are kept in top shape.
“I want to assure you that when the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium is completed, Port Harcourt will be the major destination for sporting activities in Nigeria,” he stressed
On Sharks and Dolphins Football Clubs, the sports commissioner said a major restructuring would be carried out to reposition and ensure that optimum performance for the two state owned teams.
While acknowledging that SWAN is the only umbrella body of sports writers in Nigeria, he promised to involve the association in the activities of the ministry, including continental engagements of Dolphins football club.
Earlier in his speech, the Rivers State chairman of SWAN, Mr Honour Sirawoo had congratulated the Sports Commissioner on his appointment by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, pointing out that within his short stay in office; the state had recorded several sporting achievements, including the emergence of Dolphins football club as the Premier League Champions.
Sirawoo assured the sports commissioner of the association’s desire to partner with him in the task of sports development in Rivers State, stressing that as a stakeholder, the association is well positioned to offer credible suggestions on how best to make the work of the commissioner easier.
He stressed that SWAN is the only recognised umbrella body for sports writers in Nigeria, adding that those who canvass contrary association are on their own.
He called on the sports commissioner to carry SWAN members along in the activities of the ministry, while also soliciting financial assistance to enable the association repair it’s broken down bus. Also speaking, the National Vice Chairman of SWAN South South, Mr Gabriel Nwanentanya, while congratulating the commissioner for his appointment on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN, noted the achievements recorded so far and called on the sports commissioner not to rest on his oars.
He assured of the readiness of SWAN NEC to partner with the Rivers Ministry of Sports to achieve desired objectives.
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, is full of thanks to God after he miraculously survived another life-threatening automobile accident recent at Kara, along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, where a heavy-duty truck ran into his SUV.
Narrating his ordeal, the 51-year-old, who guided Nigeria to gold in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, broke the news in a statement on his social media handles on Friday.
“To God be the glory, another death escaped by Grace and Mercy of God. Me and my friend SM were at Enyo Filling Station after Ojodu Berger bus stop to get fuel on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, around 6 p.m. when this MACK truck fully loaded with iron, with registration number LND 470 XX, left the road and crushed my car beyond repairs. Thank God for life,” he stated.
This is the second time the soft-spoken club proprietor will cheat death by a whisker, having been involved in an accident in 1997 that ended his career at 23 and left his spinal cord in bad shape.
He helped Julius Berger win the Nigeria FA Cup in November 1997 shortly a memorable Olympic outing by keeping a clean sheet in the finals against Katsina United. The following year, he was involved in the auto along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, which not only cut his career short but also left him almost paralysed, ending his spell at Serie A club Reggiana.
The former Nigeria international, who also kept goal for Julius Berger FC, said the case has been reported to Isheri Police Station, Ogun State, where the driver is currently detained and the truck also seized.
According to him, the owner of the truck said he can’t fix the badly damaged SUV until after a year.
Ex – Super Eagles of Nigeria, Okwuchukwu Waobikeze has observed that sports development in Nigeria is going down.
According to him, grassroots sports is very important, without it, the administrators cannot get it right. So everybody should key into grassroots sports development, he said.
Waobikeze said this last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after the Port Harcourt All Stars Independence football festival (OCTOBERFEST) at the Port Harcourt club, Rivers State.
He explained that for sports administrators to get it right, grassroots development is key. “They should be organising competition at the grassroots level to fish out the young ones for different sporting activities.
“Grassroots sports is very important so the administrators have to go back to the grassroots.
” Sports Development in Nigeria is going down we need to go back to the basics.
“Look at the just concluded Paris Olympics, Nigeria did not win any medal.
” Our football team did not even qualify for the Olympics. We are going down.
” If they should go back to the grassroots, they will get young ones in the games and talents will be developed.
” I started from school games, to youth games before playing for the national team. Now everybody wants to fly board to play professional football and a lot do not know the basics of the game.
” A lot of people did not know the little things about the game, they just want to play. It is not done so,” Waobikeze stated.
Kiadum Edookor
The President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, has decried the state of playing pitches in Nigeria yesterday saying only one stadium can host grade A matches in the country.
The NFF President, who spoke yesterday shortly after accompanying Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to inspect ongoing total rehabilitation work at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, expressed delight over the standard of work being done by the contractor.
He commended Governor Alia for undertaking the total rehabilitation of the stadium noting “I am very impressed with what am seeing on ground.
“You all know that for now, you can play grade A match, which is Super Eagles matches in Nigeria only in Uyo stadium. It is becoming a major source of worry for me and other Nigerians that in a country like Nigeria, we have only one stadium where we can play grade A matches.
“So when I heard that the Governor has awarded contract for the upgrade of facilities at the Aper Aku Stadium, I hurriedly came to talk to him to see the extent to which we can come in to assist and I must confirm that I am really happy with what I have seen on ground.
“We have our Technical Director here who will be working hand in hand with the contractors to ensure that everything is done correctly so that in the nearest future, we can have an alternative stadium for Super Eagles matches and that alternative should be Makurdi.
“With the commitment of the governor I know it is going to be possible and by the grace of God, we will do everything to support him to achieve the dream.
On his drive to resusitate grassroot football development, the NFF President said, “part of my campaign promises was to see how we can develop football at the grassroots and part of the process to develop grassroots football is to organise under 15 and the under 17 Governors Cup Competitions and it is not only in Benue State.
