Imoke
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Athletes that won medals for Cross River at the 18th National Sports Festival and national Schools Sports Championship were Thursday rewarded with more than N38 million from Gov. Liyel Imoke.
Our Regional Correspondent reports that sports administrators and sports heroes of Cross River extraction also benefitted from the largess at a reception organised by the state government.
Speaking at the occasion Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River urged successive state administration to sustain his Comprehensive Sports Development Programme.
He said the State government’s sports programme had no doubt placed Cross River made Cross River one of the front runners in Nigeria’s sports development
He also said that the status which the state had attained in national championships should not be taken for granted.
“One thing is to have the idea and realize it to overcome challenges and produce young men and women who exhibit potentials to become greater human beings.
“We don’t believe we should cheat to be champion but play by the rules so that when they stop to winning medals, they will become better human beings,’’ imoke said.
Imoke also said that the athletes should be given opportunities to bring back past glory days as those celebrated had done the state proud.
“To the crop of wonderful champions that the state has produced within the three out of the six years which our aggressive sports development programme began.
“You have consistently dominated the National School Sports Festival for three years in a nation where Cross River is a minority amongst great states and you are known for winning championship,” he remarked.
“Today, Cross River is consistently on the top of sports agenda and has become a destination for football, Chess champions, sports and Athletics, host of National Athletic Championship and host of the next National Sports Festival.
“I recognise the role played by the sports consultant, Dr Bruce Ijirigo and team Cross River made up of young men and women with passion and commitment to make sacrifices.
“We can sustain it and build institutions, but remember that Lyle Imoke will not be there forever, so what will happen to sports in Cross River when he leaves, it is now in your hands as coaches and sports administrators.
“My prayer is that truly, we will build institution and the coaches and administrator will take it higher and higher and that is our prayer,’’ he said.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, said that the reception was in honor of athletes that did the state proud in 18th National Sports Festival “Eko 2012’’ and 5thNational School Sports Festival “Port Harcourt 2012’’.Team Cross River came 8th on the final medals table with 12 Gold, 14 Silver and 23 Bronze at eko 2012 and won the 5th national School s[ports festival in PortHarcourt 268 medals.
According to Ugbe about N38million was expended on the deserving athletes at the awards and honours ceremony held in Calabar.
He said that Cross River will host to win the 20th national sports festival tagged the Centenary Games Calabar 2014.
The state’s sports consultant, Dr Bruce Ijirigo, who noted that, that was the third time the state was honoring its performing athletes, described it as a show of love and appreciation.
He said that event also marked the athletes’ efforts to reposition Cross River in national and international sporting competitions.
Those honoured included Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme of the Nigerai Footbal Federation’s (NFF’s) Technical Department.
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