Abia Govt Plans to Develop All Aspects of Sports – Nwaobilor, as State Commences Training of Game Masters in Cricket

The Commissioner for Sports in Abia State, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba has said that the state government has plans to develop all aspects of sports.

Sir Nwaobilor stated this while declaring open a 3-day train the trainers course for game masters of schools in Abia state organised by Abia State Cricket Association holding at Indoor Sports Stadium Umuahia.

He pointed out that the cricket training is an extension of the state grassroots sports development and called on critical stakeholders to join hands with government in this regard.

The commissioner disclosed that when they came on board, football was the only sports going on in Abia State, adding that the Governor mandated that they develop all sports and put interest in them.

“So with his approval, with his support, other sports are thriving. So what we just did today is to flag off training for the trainers.”

According to Nwaobilor, We’re trying to upskill our coaches, give them recent techniques in cricket to enable them to impact that onto the youngsters.

“So that’s what we’ve just done, and hopefully they become champions in no distant time.

He added that their track record for the last two years has been enormous, saying that the Governor is supporting them.

He maintained that the state is not only focusing on sports alone, but focusing on business of sports, sports infrastructures, also producing sports wears in Aba State, leveraging on what is happening in Aba.

The sports commissioner said Abia wants to start producing shoes, football boots, and all sports kits including weightlifting equipment.

He said the state will also give the youth employment through sports.

On advice to the criketers, Nwaobilor said that they should come out and play with much commitment and give it their best and just enjoy the game.

On his part, the special adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor said the state is trying to bring back cricket to Abia and revive it in Nigeria describing cricket as a way of life, which molds character.

According to him, criket is not just an ordinary sport, it is a sport where one learns discipline, honesty, cooperation, and to rely on one another.

His words, “I was just telling those kids that in cricket you can take your stance from your opponent.”

“You tell your opponent to guide you, show you where to stand, and the person will not deceive you and cricketers live as siblings wherever they see themselves.

“And that expression, oh, that’s not cricket, like I said, it’s something that goes deep. When somebody does something that’s wrong, you say that’s not cricket”.

Mazi Okoroafor noted that cricketers learn to play by the rules, trying as much as possible to be part of the conscience of the society.

He maintained that the state wants to to bring back that ancient and noble game, which used to be very popular before the war.

Also speaking, the State Director of Sports, Comrade George Obioma represented by the acting director of sports, comrade Jerry Bassey observed that the state has a lot to gain in cricket , which he said is a way of life, and a game of nobility.

Bassey stated that their way of life will change for one. He said in the form of the state competitions, they have never travelled outside before the emergence of the new government with cricket.

According to him, with the group of trainers that are going to train, they are going to have standard teams to travel with the youth games, the National Sports Festival, the NDDC games, among others.

“So, this is going to be another cricket heaven for us. So, these are part of the things we’re going to gain from what is happening today”.

Earlier in his speech, the facilitator of the training, Olisa Egwuatu commended Governor Alex Otti for approving the training, adding that Abia is the only state that has shown interest to train students on cricketing.

Egwuatu insisted that the event is historic and applauded Abia state government for sponsoring the cricket coaching course.