The Rivers State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) has given their nod to the appointment of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, as the coach of the Super Eagles. In the same vein, the sports writers also urged the Nigerian Football Federation to support Keshi to succeed in his new job which they have entrusted to him.
This resolution was made during the Association’s end of October 2011, congress meeting held on Thursday, November 10, 2011, where the Association deliberated on several issues concerning the fast development of the Association and Nigeria football.
In a statement signed by the scribe, Olalekan Ige, the Association stated that Keshi should look at the local league with the view of discovering talents so as to raise a more formidable Super Eagles Team that could favourably compete with other national senior teams in the African and other international countries. It urged the new coach to hit the ground immediately to ease off the feelings of Nigerian’s disappointment of the country’s failure to quality for the 2012 Nations Cup.
The statement also stressed the need for the players to give utmost co-operation and loyalty to Keshi. It urged that Keshi should ensure discipline in the new team he intends to raise, while appealing to the players to show total commitment to the national team in all matches they may be featured.
The Rivers State SWAN also called on the Apex football administrative house to reposition Nigeria’s football by reawakening the comatose football associations of the nation to function, positing that school sports among others should also be encouraged.
Meanwhile, the Association has commended Dolphins and Sharks Football Clubs for their good runs in the Nigeria Premier League, while All Stars Football club of Port Harcourt in conjunction with Rivers SWAN hailed Hon. Igwe for Dolphins and Sharks for securing continental tickets.
In another development, a courtesy visit to All Stars by SWAN, Rivers State, Barrister Aribitonye Okiri, Chairman of All Stars FC Port Harcourt has commended the Association’s partnership gesture with his club. While Martins Giadom, Vice Chairman SWAN Rivers State stated that the new found partnership with All stars will be sustained to seek ways to develop Nigerian Football.
The All Stars Football Club has planned it year of get together, dinner to end the year with a football match.
However, the Association has also planned to end the year with an award giving ceremony. To this effect, a three-man committee has been set up to scout for fund, so as to have a befitting end of year get-together award giving ceremony, come the second week of December. ####
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
