Abakaliki – A football scout, Basil Ike, has called for the installation of floodlights in the Abakaliki Township Stadium to promote sports development in the state.
Ike, a former player in the Defunct Calabar Rovers FC, made the call on Monday in Abakaliki during the final of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) games in Abakaliki.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) male team beat the Catholic Secretariat team 1-0 in the football final.
The CAN female team also beat the Catholic Secretariat female team in the Volleyball final.
Ike lamented that the second half of the match was played for about 25 minutes because of poor visibility that force an abrupt closing of the ceremonies.
“The commencement of the match was delayed because the representative of the state governor arrived late for the opening ceremony of another competition billed to start after the YOUWICAN games.
“Both formalities could have been concluded without rush if floodlights were installed at the stadium in spite of the late arrival of the governor’s representative,’’ he said.
Mr Charls Akpuenika, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, noted that the competition was an attestation of the state government’s resolve to rejuvenate sports.
“The governor approved and sponsored the State’s Sports Summit which saw the organisation of several sports competitions and youth programmes such as the International Youth Week Celebration.
“The organisation of the U-17 Governor’s Cup competition for the 13 local government areas of the state and the `Ekubaraoha’ (Governor’s Traditional title) Urban Football Competitions have also been organised by the ministry.
“The ministry has also successfully organised the YOUWICAN Games and is hosting an Inter-State Competition involving the five south-east states, the Yoruba, Hausa and South-South communities living in Ebonyi,’’ he said.
He thanked Gov. David Umahi for encouraging sports development, and for his interest in the welfare of youths in the state, affirming the ministry’s resolve to support his policies.
“We promise to use these competitions to harness talents scattered across Ebonyi and make them to represent the state in national competitions,’’ he said.
Umahi represented by Mr Francis Nwifuru, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, assured the youth of the state government’s resolve to enhance their wellbeing.
“We will in addition to various youth enhancement programmes develop sports to assist talented sportsmen and women to achieve their future aspirations,’’ he said.
Mr Onyeozi Okike, YOUWICAN Chairman in Ebonyi, noted that the competition was for the blocs of CAN youth wing in the state.
“This is an avenue to engage youths in propagating the gospel through active participation in sports and shun acts that are detrimental to the societal wellbeing.
“We would continue to support the government in enhancing sports by ensuring that Christian organisations in the state engaged in sporting activities,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the Organisation of African Institutional Churches (OAIC) won bronze in the football event, while the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) won the same in volleyball. (NAN)