Revive Schools’ Sports, RSG Urged

The Rivers State govern
ment has been called upon to  prioritise schools sports and provision of facilities in efforts aimed at sports and talent development in the state, especially at the grassroots level.
A Sports administrator and former Captain of Port Harcourt Club tennis section, Mr. Emma Obiora who made the call in an interview with Tidesports recently said that lack of sporting facilities and sponsorship by multi-national companies had been the bane of sports development in the state.
Obiora said that budding talents have been rusting away in the various local government areas and schools without enough facilities and opportunity to express themselves.
He recalled that in the past, most of the athletes that won laurels for the state were products of schools sports and other grassroots competitions.
He noted that now that some notable athletes are aging, there is need for government to revive competitions at the local level and upgrade facilities to engage the youth meaningfully and take the state back to its former glory.
According to him, the state government should provide infrastructure in schools for the kids and upcoming stars to develop their interest, adding that coaches from the State Sports Council should be sent to help discover and groom them to stardom.
The Sports administrator said that in order to achieve this aim, government cannot do it alone, and called on corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to join hands with government to revive sports in the state.
He suggested that such sponsors should be given tax rebate as an encouragement.
Obiora, who highlighted the importance of sports said it gives corporate image to a state, engage people positively and provides a platform for good health.
On tennis, he expressed dismay that since the demise of the former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry who had a tennis academy where young players were trained, nothing seems to be happening.
He appealed to the government to come to the rescue of the academy and others that are committed to the development of youth and talents.

Collins Barasimeye