The teaming youths of Rivers State Youths have expressed their happiness with Governor Ezenwo Wike on his Sports Initiative which according to them is youth orienteed,stating that the Governor has distinguished himself not only in football but in all aspects of sports development.
This follows the Governor’s promise to commission the Real Madrid Football. Academy in May this year and equip it with sporting and academic facilities; and as well charged the commissioner of Sports and other sports administrators to groom the youths as future athletes in the state, and according to the Governor, this can be done through hosting of key sports events that will involve the youths.
They extolled the Governor for his administrative excellence.
The youths see this as an opportunity for them to be positively engaged in sports, and as a way of reducing crime and cultism in the state and eventually bring last peace among individuals and communities.
Mr Braide Jack said that Wike’s leadership has brought in new development in the area of sports, not only in football but has equally tries to include athletes all in a way to accommodate the youths and make them be useful in life, as majority of the youths will benefit from the sports activities of the state.
On the implication of Governor Wike’s call on the sports administrators of the state to always engage the youths in sports Mr Braide said;-
“If our young boys and girls are involved in sports, they will abandon cultism and crime and try to excel in their new recruitments in order to earn meaningful living. These are youths who have talents but nowhere to show case such. These are youths who are willing to work, having all it takes to face any task but are abandoned at the trash-base of unemployment, but now if the Football Academy kick starts, they will show themselves as ambassadors of our state.”
According to him, the benefits of sports in the unity and oneness of a state cannot be over emphasized, as it will bring together all the warning communities and cult groups. They will see the need for embracing peace.
“Majority of the youths are unemployed not because they are lazy, but because white cola jobs cannot go round, and they still become dependent on their parents or survive through begging which no sane man likes to do.
“I commend Governor Wike because he has taken a giant step on sports to accommodate the youths and I know that majority of the Rivers Youths will embrace it. We appreciate the Governor and pray that God will give him enablement to pilot the affairs of the state and continue with the capital projects to develop the state. The youths are behind him!! Mr Braide Concludes.
It could be recalled that All African Senior Badminton Championships has just ended in Port Harcourt on 28th April, at the Diete Spiff Civic Centre where the governor addressed the closing, ceremony and charged the commissioner for sports to involve the youths in sports all year round.
“I encourage our sports administrators to promote Badminton and other sports by grooming youths as athletes.
“School competitions should be organized annually to sharpen the skills of the athletes. Engage the youths in meaningful activities.”
Present at the occasion included Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung, President, Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), Mr Tukebana Bau who presented BCA prestigious Award to the Governor, the President Badminton Federation of Nigeria as the patron of the federation.
