Sports Dev: RSG Not Satisfied With Private Sector Involvement

The Rivers State government has expressed dissatisfaction over the current level of involvement of the private sector, especially, Corporate organizations in Sports development in the state.
Speaking to newsmen at the Liberation Stadium during the opening ceremony of a grassroots football competition, 1st Orlean Invest Host Communities Football tournament, the states Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Fred Igwe noted that talents abound in Rivers State, but without competitions, it would be difficult to unearth and harness them.
He regretted that companies and corporate bodies have not been showing enough interest in investing in sports and youth development by sponsoring sports teams and competitions.
According to him, “When we were growing up, Corporate Organisations used to have their own football clubs and competitions through which the youth were engaged and talents discovered. Young men and women were kept busy via Sports activities and competitions and they hardly had time for social vices that are threatening the society this time”.
The Commissioner thus called on other organizations to borrow a leaf from Orlean Invest and engage young people in activities that would enable them explore and express their God-given talents.
“Through Sporting events, he said, ‘you would see a lot of interaction among the youth, it has the capacity to foster unity and eliminate rancor.
‘This is a wake-up call for the private sector to come back and drive youth and sports development in the state.
‘You can’t just sit there and complain that the youth are disturbing your operations when you are not planning alternative things to keep them engaged”.

Brown Ideye (left) in West Brom’s colour trying to check off an opponent in an English Premier League game