The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), South East Zone, has expressed concern about the collapse of the sports sector in the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
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The association made this known in a statement issued after a meeting of the president and secretaries of the state chapters and national officers of the association in Awka on January 10.
The communiqué was co-signed by Tunde Liadi, Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, Chimezie Anaso and Sampson Orji, Secretary and member respectively of the committee.
SWAN said the poor performance of southeastern states at the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta state, was indicative of the misfortune of sports in the region, which it said used to be home to excellence. sporty.
According to SWAN Southeast, after a critical look at the state of the sport in the area, “we welcome the participation of zone states in the recently concluded NSF, Asaba, Delta State, but note with concern the mediocre performances.
“We call for the reactivation of grassroots sports at the state and zonal level with the aim of returning the area to its place of honor.
“We encourage the states of the area to participate in the next National Youth Games and we call on the governors to support their contingents with the necessary logistics early and adequately.” he claimed.
SWAN sympathized with the Imo State government and the family of the late Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, the boxer who was killed during the NSF in Asaba.
SWAN Southeast called on the governors to have a good reward system for athletes that will motivate and check the ugly trend of athlete poaching in which they have invested heavily.
“We are concerned about the declining fortunes of the Imo State-owned Heartland Football Club and call on the state government to do everything possible to ensure that the club returns to the elite football division as soon as possible.“, he claimed.
