Sports development: Okowa harps on ‘catching them young’

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has reiterated the need to catch the children young as a measure to further strengthen the youths and sports development in the State.

The Governor gave the charge on Thursday at the kick-off ceremony of the Zenith Bank Delta Headmasters’ Cup 2021 Edition in Asaba.

The Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Festus Ovie-Agas, maintained that sports promotes discipline and helps in building confidence in the minds of the youths.

According to the governor,” there is need to catch them young as the importance of sports in the development of our youths through sports cannot be over emphasized.

“It promotes discipline and helps to build confidence in the youths and above all, takes them away from the streets.”

The Governor posited that as a government, “we need to monitor and mentor the youths so that one day these young men could be elevated into a proper sports academy where they would further be polished.”

Senator Okowa kicked off the ceremonial football match between the defending champions, Nosiere Primary school 1, Agbor and Uzoigwe Primary School, Asaba.

In his remark, the Hon. Commissioner for Primary Education, Hon. Chika Ossai, stated that the state government was set out to discover talents through sports.

He maintained that proper monitoring and mentoring would also continue in other to get these talented children to the level where they can compete with their peers in any part of the world.

The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, who was represented by Mr. Ijeoma Okowa, said that the bank was happy about the success of the competition.

The Zenith Bank boss maintained that the bank has reaped profits in the area of the quality of talents the competition has helped to discover.

The kick-off of the football match in Asaba also marked the kick-off of the tournament in different Local Government Areas of the State .

The finals of the Zenith Bank Headmasters’ Cup, 2021 Edition is expected to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, on the 11th of November, 2021.

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