By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has expressed concern over inadequate government-owned sports facilities in Anambra.

To this end, it has called on the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to reconsider his plans to convert part of theAwka Township Stadium to an amusement park.

The group said the space in contention could actually be developed into an Olympic Sports Area that would ultimately make Anambra a centre of sports excellence in the Southeast.

Rising from its monthly meeting in Awka over the weekend, the group came up with a 10-point communiqué which partly reads:

“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 theschool sports festival after over 10 years and urges its sustenance as a pathway to returning Anambra to its days of glory.

“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 Soludo to reconsider his plans to convert part of theAwka 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 semblanceof a sports stadium and also continue to enjoy the approval already obtained for staging of top class football matches.”

While calling on Anambra government to partner existing private sports investments as a way of bridging the sports facility gap, the Sports Writers hinted that such would help the state to not only be a breeding ground for talents, but a convergence point for national sports competition.

The communiqué which was signed by Anthony Oji, Chimezie Anaso, Chairman and Secretary, respectively,further read: “SWAN identifies with the significant improvement in the sports sector under the current management of Anambra State Sports Development Commission and calls 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.”