Grassroots Sports Federation (GRASOF) a body that has been contributing immensely to grassroots sports in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole, was on Monday told to diversify into other sports and not only football to tap more talents that abound in other areas.
The Youth and Sports commissioner, Mr. John Harry, who made the charge when the members led by the South-South Coordinator Mr. John Ekpenyong , appreciated the body in its efforts to develop sports but requested it to diversity to other areas.
The Commissioner who observed that football could only give a medal in any major competition as compared to other sports, believed that it will be very good for the body to hunt for talents that abound the state in other areas of sports.
However, he observed that since government alone could not develop sports, it was high time for private sectors to come for assistance and appreciated the GRASOF for providing players that are playing beyond the state and country.
He said his ministry as planning to host a sports submit where plans on how to develop sports in the state will be discussed and blue print produce from it.
Also speaking, the Director of Sports, Mr. Aniedi Dickson, commended GRASOF for always organizing football competition for our cadets which as a result, most of the talents were tapped from there for the state team.
He said that eight of them in Akwa United were doing well, hoping that by 2010 half of the indigenes of the state will make up Akwa United.
The Director said that most of them will also be chosen for zonal elimination in football since only amateur players were permitted.
Early in his address, the coordinator, Mr. Ekpenyong, commended the Commissioner for his appointment and explained that GRASOF is a foremost youth body in Nigeria recognized by National Sport s Commission, affiliated with the Nigeria Football Federation to bridge the gap of disunity in the country and as well creating youth.
Stressing that the body over the years, has lived up to its billing, he said it has organized over 30 National Youth tournament across the country to include , the President Peace Cup, Senate President Cup , Nigeria Delta Peace Cup, ALGON Unity Cup, Dr. Clement Isong Memorial Cup, and that of the Chief Godswill Akpabio .
He said that in all these competitions, the body was able to discover Namso Edo who is now with Akwa United, Emmanuel Ntuk, with Bussdor FC Port Harcourt and Etietop Essien, Anthong Bassey, Solomon Ime, all with Aspire Academy in Qatar and Daniel Edwin who is playing professional in Malaysia, stressing that with this, the body will not rest in its oars to discover talents.
He used the chance to invite the commissioner for the 3rd edition of chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio National U-18 to mark the 22nd Akwa Ibom State Anniversary Unity Cup billed to commence from September 17th to 27th 2009.
He said more than 77 teams have indicated strong interest to take part in the competition including teams from Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, and Benin Republic and solicited the Ministry’s support in order to succeed.
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