Coach Tasks Stakeholders On Grassroots Sports Development

A volleyball coach in Rivers State, Mr Christian Udogu, has called on the state government and stake, holders in sports to refocus on grassroots sports development in order to sustain and achieve the needed growth in the various sports.
Udogu, who said this recently, in an interview with Tidesports said that the best thing was to go back to schools, start from the primary.
“At least,  from primary 4,5 and 6 then take it up to secondary schools, let it be very competitive strictly on age and attendance in schools to enable us harness from there and get the state right back on track,  to where it rightfully belongs in sports,” he said.
He appealed to the state government to put in place a clear grassroots sports development policy that will encourage the discovery and training of  next generation sports men and women.
The coach noted that the terrain  in Rivers State accounted more of water, (swimming), saying that it would increase the state medal record, if more talents are discovered and groomed for future competition.
“If you look at it from the aspect of national sports festival and other games around, swimming alone can bring up to 60 gold medals and if we can invest in that, we should be able to harness it very well.”
Secondly we are blessed with wrestlers and weightlifter. In years past, athletics such as the like of J. J.  Kio and others. We think we have lost the glory in athletics. I think, we should now refocus on these sports that I have just mentioned,” Udogu added.

By: Josephine Nsirim