..Calls For Unity of Purpose
..As Plans To Return Mini Sports Festival Begins
The Imo State Sports Commission Chairman, Hon Prince (Sir) Eleazar Onyewuchi Ogbonna “Ambassador” has interfaced with all head Coaches of the State Sport Commission with the view of reviving sports in the state.
The very interactive and robust interface which was held at the VIP lounge of the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Wednesday January 31, 2024 afforded the Sports Commission Boss a firsthand knowledge knowing the Coaches and the various sports they take charge of as well as the challenges facing them as he called for unity of purpose in discharge of their duties.
The meeting which also had some management Staff of the Commission including the Director of Sports, Sir Ferdinand Emeana also gave the Coaches the opportunity to outline their challenges and the way forward to enable them give their optimum best.
Reacting, Prince Ogbonna who was once a product of school sports in athletics before switching to football appealed to the Coaches not to relent in their passion and commitment towards their duties promising to look into all the gray areas as pointed out.
He however asked all Coaches to submit their 2024 programme in line with their Association’s calendar to the Deputy Director Technical to enable him and the management team look at it with the view of reviving their activities.
He pointed out that his administration in line with the 3R/Shared Prosperity mantra of His Excellency, Gov Hope Uzodimma will aim to ensure that all sports activities and programmes that made Imo thick and home of sports then are revived including School Sports, Governor’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, among other Sports competitions that Imo state has comparative advantage as the Coaches will equally benefit from the MoU he attracted for the Commission’s Coaches to be trained and retrained in Europe through a Sports Agency in Spain.
Prince Ogbonna who assured the Coaches that his priority will always be their welfare and that of the athletes also hinted that he would work closely with the Director of Sports and other necessary management staff to ensure that the state organizes a mini Sports Festival to ensure that grassroots sports in the state doesn’t die.
Ambassador who was commended for the bold move to interface with the key actors on the Commission which they described as one of its kind promised to take their appeal to the Governor assuring that the sports loving Governor who is already diversifying his Youth Empowerment programmes would give his listening ears and that sports will be revived on the state.
Other Imo Sports Commission Management Staff who were present at the interface includes; Lady Justina Akpulo (Director Technical), Mrs Ngozi Ibeatuche (Director Organizing), Mrs Patricia Ezeji (Director Administration), Engr Spiff Onukwugha (Deputy Director Facility Management) among others.
