Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN Rivers State Chapter has called on sports authorities in the country to improve on our area of strength in a bid to win more medals at international competitions.
The Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN Rivers State Chapter Jim Opiki said sports like wrestling, swimming, boxing, and athletics are multi-medal sports that can fetch the country more medals at international competitions like Olympic Games, All African Games, and Commonwealth Games.
Jim Opiki said the over-concentration on football is not good for sports development in the country.
He opined that winning medals will be very easy in those areas of strength because Nigeria has a comparative advantage in wrestling, boxing, and other contact sports.
Opiki also called on sports administrators to market sportsmen and women so as to attract youngsters to get involved in sports activities.
The SWAN Chairman in Rivers State said youths across the country are more attracted to the exploits of sports stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He noted that sports is a sector that can create thousands of jobs for the teeming youths in the country.
On the ouster of Rivers United from the CAF Confederation Cup Competition, the SWAN Chairman asked the team to learn from their defeat to Enyimba and move ahead in the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL.
Jim Opiki described the loss to Enyimba as a black Sunday in Port Harcourt.
He, however, commended Rivers United for standing up to Enyimba fc during the two-legged tie in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The two-legged tie ended one all on aggregate before the game was decided by penalties.
Jim Opiki also lauded the heroics of Enyimba Goalkeeper Noble Bariye who saved one penalty and scored the winning kick for the ‘People’s Elephant’.
