The Zonal Sports Coordinator incharge of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam/Ika Sport Zone, Coach Aniekan Umoh has described the camping and training of athletes selected during the final of the last Akwa Ibom State NNPC/Mobil All Secondary Schools Athletics Championship at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium as a welcome development and one of the best ways of encouraging grassroot sports development in the state.
Coach Umoh who spoke with sports journalists after watching the final of the training on Saturday noted that with the caliber of coaches and experts brought in by the Consultant of the project, Mr. Paul Bassey to handle the athletes, the sky will be their limit if they remain focused, committed and ready to take their career seriously.
The Zonal Sports Coordinator expressed happiness that the NNPC/Mobil Athletics Championship which has been the only athletics championship in the state, has yielded positive result as according to him, products discovered from the championship have been nurtured to represent the state and the country in national and international championships.
He commended the Project Consultant, Mr. Paul Bassey for his interest in the development of sports in the state, stressing that with his achievements and intimidating profile in sports journalism, management and administration, he should be honoured and celebrated.
The football tactician regretted that without the NNPC/Mobil Athletics Championship, there wouldn’t be any other athletic competition in the state and appealed to government, corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to assist in organizing and sponsoring athletics competitions.
Coach Umoh pointed out that by so doing, the state would in nearest future produce more, Utitofon Uko, Enefiok Udobong among others.
The Zonal Sports Coordinator also made case for the provision of sports facilities in schools to encourage grassroot sports development. “In those days, we used to have sports facilities in our schools, such as basketball, handball, volleyball pitches and lawn tennis court.
Where did they get money to put these facilities in place? Apart from the NNPC/Mobil Athletics Championship, which other athletics competition do we have? So, the Initiator of this laudable project, Mr. Paul Bassey should be honoured and celebrated because he has contributed immensely to the development of sports in the state.
I pray God to continue to bless him, and to take him to a more higher position such as CAF or FIFA Presidency seat. It would not be out of place if an indigene of Akwa Ibom should rise to occupy such exalted position”, Coach Umoh reasoned.
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