Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Anambra chapter has commended the state government lead by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for bringing back the school sports festival after over ten years and urges its sustenance as a pathway to returning Anambra to its days of glory.
In a communique from their monthly meeting held on Friday September 15 in Awka, signed by the Anambra SWAN state chapter chairman Mr. Anthony Oji and Mr. Chimezie Anaso the Secretary, stated that Anambra State has recorded a remarkable spike in the level of sports activities in the last one year
The association in their meeting said they are impressed with the level of participation and performances of Anambra at national competitions and wishes the state contingent success at National Youth Games coming up in Delta State between Sept. 20 and Sept. 30.
SWAN also expresses concern over inadequate government owned sports facilities in Anambra and therefore called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to reconsider his plans to convert part of the Awka Township Stadium to an amusement park when it can actually be developed into an Olympic Sports Area and make Anambra a centre of sports excellence in the Southeast.
Anambra SWAN chapter in their resolution rejects the plans to use part of the Park A of the Awka Township Stadium for a car park for fun seekers in the proposed amusement park and calls on Gov. Soludo to use the area around the football pitch for Games Village which will contain a hotel, indoor sports hall, and training pitches.
They mainted that 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
SWAN however calls on Anambra government to partner existing private sports investments as a way of bridging the sports facility gap so that the State will not just be a breeding ground for talents but convergence point for national sports competition.
The association identifies with the significant improvement in the sports sector under the current management of Anambra State Sports Development Commission and call for increased funding for the Sector.
SWAN restates its readiness to partner Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration for the success of the emerging sports economy in Anambra.
