Sports
Reps Plans 360 Turfs Nation-Wide
The House of Representatives Committee on sports says it is poised to enhance sports development in the country through the establishment of ‘playing turfs’ in each of the 360 federal constituencies in the country.
Also, the committee says plans are under way to establish 30 mini-stadiums nationwide to boost sports and restore the country to its pride of place in African and Continental sports.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Ali-Gaiya dropped this hint in an Abuja recently.
“W are hoping that before the end of our tenure, we’ll ensure every constituency has a playing turf. We are thinking of building mini stadiums playing fields at the grassroot level so as to expose our teeming youths to sports.
The committee appropriated for over 30 of such”, he said.
The mini-stadium, he said, would have turfs fro basket ball, volleyball and handball as well as other sports, with an indoor sports hall when built adding that there is a deliberate policy in place to groom the country’s teeming youths for sports, using these facilities.
He also recalled that Nigerian football attended an appreciable level of success in the 1990’s under coach Clemens Westerhorf because Westerhorf discovered talents at the grassroots and groom them for the national team, regretting that these days, coaches use mostly ready-made players rather than scouting for talents at the grassroot.
Hon Gaiya said,the committee considers the problem with Nigerian Sports as lack of grassroot development and was resolute to tackle it from tally and return the country to its days of glory in sports.
“In 1994, Nigeria became the 5th best football nation in the world so we want to return to those old days. That’s precisely the challenge facing the committee. We resolved to invite the NFF/NFA and other stakeholders and dialogue so that Nigerian football does not suffer setback (in the months and years ahead)”.
The committee he said a lot in the last two years but admitted that enormous task’ lies ahead so the committee will not falter in its responsibilities as all hands will continue to be on deck to take Nigerian sports to the heights.
“The position has enormous challenges. I came at a time our sporting process was being put to test. In the last few days, virtually all over football teams crashed out from one competition or the other.
Having said that, hope is not lost. It’s the challenge before the committee and we ‘ll ensure our sports bounce back (fully)”, he assured.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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