Cross River Will Continue To Dominate School Sports In Nigeria - Okang

Comrade Asu Okang, Cross River Youths and Sports Development Commissioner 

Cross River State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Comrade Asu Okang has reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensuring that the State continue to dominate school sports in the country.

The Commissioner stated this during the inauguration of the 2017 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade annual "Mega Trophy Football Tournament" in Calabar.

While reaffirming the Governor's unalloyed interest in sports development, he said that the efforts of the Governor is clearly visible in his actions and support for sports as well as his concurrent expenditure in sporting activities in the State.

Emphasising the state's interest in sports, he said that "Our dear digital Governor has serious interest in sports development. This was why he initiated the Governor’s cup in 2016 which was held at the Ikom Ultramodern Stadium and saw the Coco Tigers of Etung clinching the maiden star prize".

Explaining further, he said that this year's tournament will serve as a grooming field to cultivate and scout for young talents for the State own team, UNICEM Rovers of Calabar.

He added that already, there was plan on ground to ensure that members of the scouting unit of the club will attend all the matches to identify promising talents that could make up of the State team for the 2018 session.

The competition according to him will commence from 10th November to 3rd December, 2017 and will be hosted across the three senatorial districts of the state with Ogoja, Ikom and Calabar selected as venues.

He charged the LOC not to rest on their oars in ensuring that the competition is well packaged and delivered to achieve its purpose.

"I'm confident that as seasoned and ardent followers and contributors to the development of sports in the State, you will bring your wealth of experience in the sports world to bear in the competition and make the 2017 Governor’s cup memorable and unbeatable", he said.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Sport, Hon. Effiom Effiwatt is to chair the committee while the State Football Association Secretary, Mr. Mike Ushie will serve as the Secretary.

Other Members of the committee include Ekanem Ekpenyong, Agbor Onyi, Eno Okoi Samuel, Felix Uke, Undeshi David Ugar, Andrea Inyang, Kingsley Erim and Egbung Egbung Odama.

In his remarks, the Chairman assured that the Committee will work tirelessly to ensure the purpose of the competition which is grassroots scouting and development of talents in the State is achieved.

"The purpose of the competition will not be defeated. We will give our best in making the 2017 edition bolder, bigger and better", the LOC Chairman said.