SWAN decries collapse of sports in South East

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Southeast Zone, has expressed worries over 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 communique issued after a meeting of chairman and secretaries of state chapters and national officers of the association in Awka on Jan. 10.

The communique was jointly signed by Tunde Liadi, Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee, Chimezie Anaso and Sampson Orji, the Secretary and member respectively of the committee.

SWAN said the poor performance of Southeast states at the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, was indicative of the poor fortunes of sports in the region which it said used to be home to sporting excellence.

According to SWAN Southeast, after taking a critical look at the state of sports in the zone, “we express satisfaction with the participation of the states in the zone at the just-concluded NSF, Asaba, Delta State, but noted with concern, the unimpressive performances.

“We call for the revival of grassroots sports at the state and zonal levels with the aim of getting the zone back to its pride of place.

“We encourage states in the zone to participate in the forthcoming National Youth Games and call on governors to support their contingents with needed logistics early and adequately,” it stated.

SWAN commiserated with the Imo state government and family of late Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, the boxer who died during the NSF in Asaba.

SWAN Southeast appealed to governors to have a good reward system for sportsmen and women to serve as a motivation and check the ugly trend of poaching of athletes in which they have invested much in.

“We are concerned over the dwindling fortunes of Imo State-owned Heartland Football Club and call on the state government to do all it can to ensure that the club returns to the elite football division as soon as possible,” it stated.

NAN