By By PAMELA EBOH, Awka on December 3, 2020

The Chairman, Rojenny Stadium and Tourist Center in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, on Wednesday described sports as a veritable tool to good life and living legitimately abroad.

He made the statement in Oba when members of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN), Anambra State Chapter, paid him a courtesy call as part of its programme to mark this year’s SWAN Week.

Ezeonwuka noted that the sports sector has the capacity to kick-start the country’s economy in the post COVID-19 if properly harnessed.

According to him, Nigeria had a large pool of talented athletes in all sports that can rule the world if well groomed and packaged.

He said: “Sports is one career that can give people legitimate stay in Europe, America, Asia and other foreign countries and make them earn fat pay. It is a booming business abroad,

“Nigeria has footballers and athletes who can excel anywhere in the world, what we need to do is discover them, export them and sooner than you think, remittances will start coming.

“Many countries are surviving on what they get from players abroad, Nigeria can mitigate the effect of COVID-19 from sports.

“What I have here is an Olympic stadium not soccer stadium, it was built over 35 years ago, we have hosted national and continental events here but now, the society is not making the best use of it.

“This is a breeding ground for sports champions, let sports administrators bring trainings and competitions here because most states don’t have what is in Rojenny.”

The sports enthusiast hailed the role of sports writers played in the development of sports in the country and urged them to continue to highlight athletes who do well and also keep administrators on their toes.

While describing sports writers as necessary pillars in sports development, he called on government and private sector to support them to succeed.

Earlier in his speech, the SWAN chairman in the state, Mr Tony Oji, said the kick-off of 2020 SWAN Week at Rojenny was significant in view of the contributions of the stadium to sports development in Nigeria.

Oji, who presented a souvenir to Ezeonwuka, described him as a touch bearer in private sector investment in sports saying that what he built as individual was yet to be equaled many years after.

He assured that SWAN will continue in their bid to promote sports through responsible journalism.

Other activities slated to mark the SWAN Week with theme, “Promoting Sports Through Responsible Journalism”, include tour of some sports facilities in Anambra, novelty match and lecture to be delivered by Tony Nezianya, a veteran sports journalist.

Recognition and Award night would hold on December 4, 2020.

•PHOTO: Rojenny Boss, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, admiring the souvenir presented to him by the visiting Anambra SWAN delegation . . . on Wednesday in Oba

Source Daily sports

Posted December 3, 2020

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