Sports loving people, we promise you one thing, provided we have life in our advantage we will always go the extra length to bring out even the sports personalities in the sporting events that were not highlighted by sports journalists. This is a promise, take us by our words. It is on this note that this week, to make our promise real, we are spotlighting one of the sporting events that lacked the deserved publicity in the hands of media men- Gymnastics and its chairman, a young man yearning for glory. He had practically demonstrated that even as the Rivers State government does not give him the needed support to keep the sport afloat, he would not give up.
During the 17th National Sports Festival which was hosted by Rivers State, Gymnastics was denied equipment yet he went on to produce the second best result in the overall medal table in gymnastics. So sad indeed. A situation of the rejected stone coming to be the needed pillar of the house.
A young man born 35 years ago, yearning for glory with vigour with gymnastics, yet thwarted by the very government that would always take the glory at the end of the day.
Despite his doggedness and persistence in holding on tight, the Rivers State government still failed him. To have produced the best result ever in gymnastics in the history of Rivers State, he merits The Newswriter Sports Personality of the Week. A gentle, purposeful, dutiful, intelligent, vibrant, disciplined, focused and above all, God fearing young man, who will always want what should be done to be done, the way it should be done.
Please help me as we welcome Engineer Diepreye Jacob, the chairman of Rivers State Gymnastic Association, the make-happen chairman of gymnastic as The Newswriter Sports Personality of the Week.
Please sit back as we unfold his data for you the way we laid our hands on them. Happy reading
Name: Engr. Diepreye Jacob
Age: 35
Home Town: Nembe
LGA: Nembe
State: Bayelsa
Sports: Gymanstics, boxing, cycling and athletics
Position: Chairman R/S Gymnastics Association
Favourite Sport: Gymanstics
Favourite Jersey No: Blue
Aspiration: To take gymnastics to higher level, where
it will be recognized as one of the sports at
the government and corporate level
Role Model: Nigeria’s no 1 in gymnastics, Sati
Turn On: Sincerity, especially my followers
Turn Off: Hypocrisy and indiscipline
Current Base: Port Harcourt
Occupation: Engineer (self employed) cum businessman.
Achievements: Took over chairmanship of R/S Gymnastics Association in 2005 and achieved the best result for the state in NSF- 3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze medals. 2nd all best in the medal table of NSF. Also produced the best medalist in NFS
GSM: 08056627899
Waoh! What can The Newswriter sports say? He was not given the enabling environment to produce as many gold medals as he ought to have or wanted to produce for the state, because the state government failed him completely by not providing him equipment for his association lads to train. Yet he went on to produce the best result ever in the history of Rivers State gymnastics, also produced the Nigeria No. 1 gymnast with his personal effort as ex gymnast.
He made this happen by hiring gymnastics equipment from neighbouring Bayelsa State to claim this feat. Please hail the hero of Rivers State gymnastics, Engr. Diepreye Jacob as the man of the moment.
The Newswriter sports desk wishes you more fruitful years of success. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
