BY KINGSLEY UZOWULU…
The Imo state chapter of SWAN has appealed to the state government to immediately release funds meant for the national sports festival commencing on the 16/5/25 in Ogun state.
The association after her monthly Congress observed that early release of funds will enable the athletes wrap up their preparations and help them to settle down and remain focused to win laurels for the state.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka and the secretary, Tunde Liadi, the association strongly appeal to the governor for immediate release of funds for both the athletes and officials so the state athletes will not be left out in the scheme of things.
The association also observe with utmost dismay the state of sports infrastructures available for the athletes at the Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri and clearly states that a lot needs to be done to give these facilities a face lift.
The body hails the states athletes and officials for making use of the facilities available to them to prepare for the festival and pray they do well in Ogun state if exposed to better facilities in the cause of the festival.
The state in the last 3 National Sports Festival had performed below average. For example, in Abuja 2018 NSF, the state was placed 18th with 5gold, 3silver,and 13 bronze medals, in Edo 2020 NSF, the state finished 10th with 10gold, 13silver and 26bronze medals, and finally in Delta 2023, IMO state came 11th with 12gold, 8silver and 25 bronze medal.
For the state to surpass these records funds must be released early enough for the athletes to prepare adequately otherwise, we may witness a general lack lustre performance by the athletes and at the end of the day a more depreciating result compared to the 3 other festivals mentioned above.
The association believes that sports is capital intensive and if properly managed and invested into can generate funds for the state and not just medals.
