By Ikemefuna Asika
Sports Writers in Anambra State Chapter have called on Anambra State governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to reconsider his plans of converting parts of Awka city stadium to amusement park.
In a communique at the end of their meeting in Awka, the Sports Writers under the aegis of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria,SWAN, maintained that the stadium if properly developed could make Anambra State the Centre of excellence in sports in the South- East.
They also expressed concern over inadequate sporting facilities in the State and rejected plan to use part of the park A of the stadium for car park for fun seekers in an amusement park proposed in the area.
According to the communique, “the area around the football field should be used for games village which will contain a hotel/hostel, indoor sports hall and training pitches amongst others, as it will help the arena retain the semblance of a sports stadium and also continue to enjoy the approval already obtained for staging of top class football matches”.
They noted the remarkable spike in the level of sports activities in the last one year and appreciated the Anambra State government for bringing back the school sports festival after over 10 years and urged its sustenance as a pathway to returning Anambra to its days of glory.
SWAN also called on Anambra government to partner existing private sports investments as a way of bridging sports facility gap so that the State will not just be a breeding ground for talents but convergence point for national sports competitions.
It equally identified with the significant improvement in the sports sector under the current management of Anambra State Sports Development Commission and called for increased funding for the Sector and wished the State contingent to the national youth games which comes in Asaba, Delta State in a fortnight huge success.
According to the communique signed by Tony Oji and Patrick Anaso, Chairman and Secretary respectively, the Association restated its readiness to partner Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration for the success of the emerging sports economy in Anambra State.
