Enugu State Coaches has expressed disappointment over the dilapidated state and high level disregard for sports and its activities, citing lack of investment and maladministration, as part of the challenges facing the sector.
They further lamented that there is the possibility of some sports going to moribund due to the approach meted out by the Ministry for Youth and Sports Development, even as the sports lack programs, coaches and athletes.
Speaking under the condition of anonymity at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium yesterday, following the commencement of 2025 Southeast Zonal elimination games, a coach regrets the decision of a Ministry staff continually conducting and coordinating sporting activities for so many years, at the expense of the coaches.
Another Coach also criticized the attitude put up by the state government and the Ministry towards the development and promotion of sports, even as he disagreed with the timing of the just concluded Secondary School games in the state.
On the issue of the state withdrawing from any NSC organized competition even after qualification as a result of lack of finance, the Southeast Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission, Benard Ezeama warned every participating state on this stance, saying that the Commission will not relent in sanctioning any erring state.
In a similar development, the zonal elimination games which will serve as qualification for Team Sports to the National Youth Games, NYG, scheduled to hold in Asaba later this month, commenced yesterday, just as there was competition in basketball, football, volleyball, handball, cricket, beach volleyball, hockey, abula, baseball and rugby.
Meanwhile, a very strong Anambra Team defeated Abia State (6-1) in the first game of the basketball event, and Team Enugu, despite the home support, could not withstand the aggression of Imo State, losing (7-12) in the male category, but Enugu bounced back in the female category to edge pass Imo State (5-4).
The handball court was not short of exciting and dazzling performance as Team Abia proved too hot to handle decimating Enugu in two straight sets of (17-11, 21-10) in the male category.
Also in volleyball, the Imo State female team continued to showcase their dominance and superiority, edging pass a relatively naive Enugu Team in (2-1 sets), while in the male category, it was Abia State who came out tops against an Enugu in a pulsating encounter which ended (2-1 sets).
The report from one of the football games (male) is indeed not pleasant as Abia and Anambra abandoned the encounter because according to the petition, Team Abia fielded ineligible players, while Abia were victorious in Rugby against Imo.
