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By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra State chapter has urged governor Chukwuma Soludo to reconsider any plan to use part of Awka Township Stadium for Car park while he can actually develop the facility to a befitting Olympic sports area.
According to SWAN, the Soludo stands a chance of uplifting the bubbling Awka township Stadium, as well as developing other sporting events in Anambra State using the Private Public Partnership (PPP).
SWAN, in a communique issued at end of its September meeting and signed by the Chairman, Mr Tony Oji and Secretary, Mr Chimezie Anaso, however, appreciated the governor for inspiring various sporting events in recent time.
The communique read, "That Anambra State has recorded a remarkable spike in the level of sports activities in the last one year.
SWAN appreciates the Anambra government for bringing back the school sports festival after over 10 years and urges its sustenance as a pathway to returning Anambra to its days of glory.
"That SWAN is 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 expresses concern over inadequate government owned sports facilities in Anambra and therefore called on Gov. 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.
"SWAN 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.
This 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 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.
"SWAN 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."