Port Harcourt -The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has appealed to Rivers traditional rulers to donate a trophy for a sporting competition in the state.
The National President of SWAN, Mr Saidu Abubakar, made the appeal when the association`s national executive called on King Dandeson Jaja, Chairman, Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Abubakar also appealed to the traditional ruler to extend a hand to the sporting family.
“I know you have been doing it but we need more so that our younger ones will copy as well as other members of your council to follow suit.
“Let us have a competition with a trophy donated in your name, especially for our youths at the primary and secondary schools to compete,” he said.
According to Abubakar, if Rivers starts a sports competition, organisations, such as Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, will pick it up and make it a national event.
He said it would be to the credit of the traditional ruler if he took such step.
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Abubakar commended Jaja for accepting to be the royal father at the association`s full council meeting.
In his response, Jaja said he would discuss the idea with members of the council , considering that it was essential to catch youths early and develop their talents.
“It is something the traditional rulers will want to be into. We will like to have football and other aspects of sports in our domains.
“It will help us to catch these talents as early as we can and enable them to come into national and international prominence,” he said.
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Jaja said SWAN was an important association that had been able to showcase the talents of Nigerian sportsmen.
He said Port Harcourt was very famous for sports and that it was not a surprise that Gov. Nyesom Wike had done so much in the area of sport..
In a related development, the President of Go Round FC, a Pro-league Division 1 team, Felix Obuah, said sports could not be developed by government alone without private participation.
He said Go Round FC had built a 10,000 capacity stadium in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area to complement government efforts.
Obuah said the role of SWAN in propagating sports in the country and beyond could not be over emphasised.
Meanwhile, Abubakar, commended Wike for hosting SWAN Full Council meeting and giving attention to sports in Rivers. (NAN)
