Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Commissioner for Sports in Abia State,Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba,
has said the state government is determined to promote sporting activities in the state by reintroducing Inter-House sports competition in primary and secondary schools.
He said the essence was to encourage talented youths in the State to begin to maximize their sports potentials from an early age.
Ananaba, spoke in Umuahia the state capital on Tuesday shortly after the inauguration
of members of the newly reconstituted boards of Enyimba,
Abia warriors, and Abia Comets football clubs.
He disclosed that plans are on to upgrade the Umuahia Township Stadium to a world class status, adding that the Ministry of Sports will soon commence a sensitization tour to schools on the need for students to partake in sporting activities.
He charged the chairmen and Baord members of the state owned clubs to see their position as a call to serve and service delivery to the state.
He said, “The core of forming and inaugurating Board members for our football clubs today is to ensure that the state will regain her place in producing professional footballers and sportsmen as in the past.
“The tempo must be kept alive. We must not diminish. Therefore our collective ingenuity and mastery are needed for us to keep flying the flag of competence and productivity”.
Those inaugurated includes a
former Nigeria International player Mr Kanu Nwankwo,who is the chairman of the Enyimba International Football club of Aba, his vice Mr Eric I. Esomugha and secretary Frank Adiele Alaribe.
Others were the chairman of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia Mr John Ogbu, his vice Hon Dennis Chinonye Anokwuru and secretary Mr Francis Obinna.
The rest are the chairman of Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia Mr Boniface Uche and his secretary Henry Steven.