Sports
RSG Seeks Private Sector Support For Sports Dev
The Rivers State Government has called on multinational companies and other organisations in the state to support the growth of sports in the state, noting that government can not do it alone.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Rivers State, Sir Honour Sirawoo, stated that the state government is ready to partner with any organisation that may wish to invest in sporting activities in the state
Sirawoo, who was represented by the Director of Sports Development in the Ministry, Emmanuel Nwaiju, made the call on Monday while flagging off the maiden edition of the New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon, sponsored by Odibola Services Limited, at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.
” The state government is ready to partner and support any organisation which may take sporting activities to the next level in the state”, Sir Sirawoo said.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer / General Manager Director of Odibola Services Limited, Mr Sunny Isaac said that the New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon is aimed at bringing the people of Rivers State together in a celebratory atmosphere for peace, unity and hospitality.
He applaud the foresight of the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike in executing legacy projects for the benefit of Rivers people and approval of the hosting of the New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon.
He explained that the New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon 2022 is a bold statement to investors that the state is peaceful and safe for investors to do business.
” The New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon is going to be an annual event. Sporting activities have the power to bring people together to inspire, to show what is possible.
“Personally, I have enjoyed the rich cultural heritage and hospitality of the state and can confirm that indeed Rivers State is the treasure base of the nation”, Isaac stated.
He congratulated all the participants for coming out for the event, adding that it will inspire other youths to involve themselves in sporting activities.
The New Port Harcourt Mini Marathon 2022 was powered by Odibola Properties in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Sports.
Earlier, John Muiruri Buru of Kenya emerged winner of the men’s category of the 21km race.
Buru defeated over 300 athletes with another Kenyan, Solomon Koech clinching the second position while the third position was won by a Nigerian from Plateau State, Adamu Shehu Muazu.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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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