Sports
SWAN Expresses Concern Over NFF Failure
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has expressed deep concern over the contined failure of the country’s sports authorities to organise the National Sports Festival for the past five years.
This was a part of the eight (8) form communique decided in the National Electoral Council (NEC) meeting of the SWAN held between May 31 and June 1 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
NEC has challenged the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to take a decisive action on the matter as the delay impedes the discovery and development of talents.
NEC urged critical stakeholders in the forthcoming National Sports Federation Elections to avoid actions capable of creating crisis in the interest of sports development and ensure that elections are conducted in line with international best practices.
The meeting also commended the Senate, under the leadership of SWAN National Patron, Dr Bukola Saraki, for passing the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) bills, and urged the House of Representatives to follow suit in order to facilitate the development of sports in the country.
NEC has resolved to establish a SWAN foundation to cater for the welfare of members and approved the constitution of a steering committee to galvanise the process.
NEC supports President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government’s anti-corruption crusade, but frowned at the continued detention of SWAN National Patron Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah and urged the authorities concerned to charge him to court in line with the rule of law.
While awaiting official information on the yet to be conducted AIPS-Africa election, NEC assures that as soon as it receives such notification it shall once again encourage interested members of the association to apply for nomination into available positions.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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