flags off youths sports festival

BY NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha
Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano yesterday at the Rojenny Sports Stadium, Oba, near Onitsha, Anambra state, expressed optimism that the Coach Stephen Keshi-led Nigeria’s Super Eagles will impress at the forthcoming Brazil 2014 World Cup.

He said he believed that all the players assembled by Keshi to prosecute the matches at the mundial are of international standard and as such has all it takes to do the country in particular and African continent proud.

Obiano who spoke while flagging off Youths Sports activities for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions sports competitions, organized by the state ministry of youths and sports, in collaboration with the management of Super Sports International, said a lot of Super Eagles players are from Anambra State and as such the state would like to produce more players for future national teams.

The Governor noted that the essence of organizing the sporting events was to ensure that Anambra youths are trained, encouraged, supported and funded in such a way that they would win many gold laurels during this year’s forthcoming National Sports Festival billed for Calabar, Cross River state, adding, “our future governors and perhaps president are here with us today among these children”.

He said his administration is optimistic of making the state a place to live in without fear of criminals, adding that he had already kicked off Operation Kpochapu which is targeted at wiping out criminals in the state and replacing them with educated and talented sports men and women of sound mind.
The Governor commended Super Sports International for working in partnership with the state government towards the upliftment of sports in the state, stating that it would help fish out talents who would represent the state at all levels.

He said that the state would be very much prepared for the coming National Youths Sports festivals and commended the State Commissioner of Sports, Hon. Tony Nnacheta, for his preparedness towards making the state contingents to go for a better position this time around unlike what  obtained in the last festival where the state contingent performed poorly.
The Governor reiterated the resolve of the  State Government to renovate Rojenny stadium, complete the on-going tartan tracks project and equip it with modern sports facilities that would bring it to an international standard.

According to him, “we are going to do more work on the Rojenny Stadium”. This is the only state in Nigeria that has three stadia and as such there is opportunity for sports’ growth in the state.”