Gov Chime Pledges to Continue Supporting Grassroots Sports Development


`We`ll continue to support grassroots sports development'
October 3, 2011 06:09PM
234Next.com


Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State says his administration will continue to
develop grassroots sports in order to discover hidden talents. Mr Chime said
this on Monday in Nsukka during the opening ceremony of a football championship,
tagged, `Mayor's Cup Competition 2011'. The cup at stake was donated by Nsukka
local government chairman, Tony Ugwu, for youth in the area.

The governor said reviving school inter-house sports and grassroots competitions
would help Rangers International of Enugu and other clubs to harness talented
players that abound in the state.

"Every effort will be made to harness talented sportsmen in the state.

"Our objective is to revive school sports in primary and secondary schools as
well as ensure that secondary schools hold their annual inter-house sports to
enable us to capture budding talents.

"Football has become a vehicle to promote unity in diversity," he said.

Chime noted that on assumption of office for a second tenure, he approved
₦100 million for refurbishing the state sports council as a way of
encouraging and reviving sports in the state.

Chime commended Nsukka local government for its youth-friendly programmes aimed
at empowering the youth.

"Nsukka local government has been a youth-friendly one. I commend them for
following the noble steps of the state in sports development.

"I urge participating teams to play according the rules. Officials shall be
decisive and fair. You should not allow unnecessary prejudices to becloud your
sense of judgment," he said.

The governor was represented by Barth Ezeugwu, his senior special assistant on
Youth Empowerment/Mobilisation.

In a remark, the donor of the cup, Ugwu, said it was in fulfilment of his
political campaign promises that he would donate a trophy to encourage youths to
realise their full potential in sports.

"I charge officials to be unbiased and players to exhibit sportsmanlike conduct
either in victory or defeat," he said.

Ugwu said when youths were engaged in sporting activities, it helped to divert
their attention from crime and other antisocial behaviour.

"I urge you to shun violence and hooliganism during the competition," he said
Earlier in a remark, the chairman of the local organising committee, Byron
Ezeugwu, pledged that the committee would be fair to all participating teams.

"We will discharge out duties with honesty and fairness to all.

"I urge players and their handlers to show a high level of maturity and
discipline so as to enhance a hitch-free competition.

Orient FC, Nsukka, defeated Ndi-Nda FC, 1-0 in the opening match. No fewer than
30 local clubs in the local government area are participating in the
competition.