The Chairman, Imo State Sports Commission, Hon Prince Sir Eleazar Onyewuchi Ogbonna has rolled out his programmes aimed at improving and developing sports in the state, Silvernews.com.ng reports.
The Ambassador of Sports said that he wants to revive sports in the state adding that he has engaged the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the avalanche of talents at the grassroots are harnessed in the state.
He revealed that the Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Spanish government aimed at upgrading the coaches for better output for the growth of sports in the state.
Ambassador Ogbonna went further to say that the Commission intends to host sporting events adding that they will extend their programmes in ensuring that athletes get educated that will touch their lives.
His words: “The programme I have for Imo State is that I want to bring the sports back from the grassroots. This time around, I want to bring it to the door post of every individual in Imo State. We want to turn things around so that there won’t be excuse again.
“I have been having series of meetings with coaches, sports lovers, asking them the reason why sports is dying in Imo State. And this is the time we need to take it to another level and that another level is that all the sports we normally do before, like Governor’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, School Games and all that.
“It is not only football. We have other sports like boxing, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, lawn tennis etc. We want to bring all these sports to the table in all the schools and start seminars.
“The good thing about it is that we have already signed MoU with Spanish government so that all our coaches will be upgraded. If they finish the upgrading with the Spanish government, they will have licences to coach anywhere in the world. They say charity begins at home and that’s why I want Imo State to be at the top. That’s why I want every young boy and girl in Imo State to be part of this programme.
“We will take them off the streets to make sure we put smile on their faces and put food on the table for them. That is the handiwork of the governor and his programmes to make every Imolites are happy despite the hardship. We can reduce the crime in Imo State with this programme so that every community will be happy. We have the programme to take the athletes outside the country. The governor is trying to guide Imo State in the right path.
“The programme we have on ground is that we want to host a festival with which we will invite other states to come to Imo State. I think that will boost our sports in Imo State. As the Ambassador of Sports, what we need to do is to start from the South-East, rebuilding the players to see how they can be at the top to make sure that Imo State hosts the South-East.
“It doesn’t end there but in education as well. We have a programme that will see how to touch the lives of these players.”
