SPORTS DEVELOPMENT: ANAMBRA STATE GOVT SEEKS TO REVIVE ROJENNY GAMES VILLAGE OBA

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Anambra State Government says it will partner private sports administrators in the state to ensure an all-round development of sporting activities.

The Chairman Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Patrick Onyedum, stated this when he visited Rojenny Stadium and Games Village Oba in Idemmili South Local Government Area.

According to Mr. Onyedum, the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has resolved to develop grassroots sports and create export economy for the state.

The Sports Chairman, while commending the Managing Director of the facility for his vision for sports growth in Nigeria and Anambra State in particular, said there were a number of areas the government could partner Rojenny to improve sports in the area.

He noted that the facilities were still of high-quality despite that it was built about four decades ago.

The Managing Director of Rojenny Stadium and Games Village Oba, Rommy Ezeonwuka, said his vision was that Anambra State and Nigeria would have overtaken Jamaica in athletics and Brazil in football but expressed regret that the continued degeneration of the facility was due to lack of use and neglect.

Represented by the Acting Chairman Rojenny Stadium Management Committee, Victor Nwangwu, the Director said the facility was large enough to host any size of competition up to the national level.

While noting that the arena could be a ground for regenerating of athletes, Mr. Ezeonwuka said partnership with the Anambra State Government was important as no individual could manage such magnitude of facility alone.

A veteran national athlete and consultant to the Anambra State Sports Commission, Oluyomi Sule, while describing the facility as of Olympic Stadium standard, especially the handball court, harped on the need for the place to be turned to a sports hub in the South-East.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU