Coaches under the auspices of the Rivers State Football Coaches Association have organized a-one day training workshop to upgrade the capacity of its members and enhance their performance.
The event which took place at the liberation stadium last Tuesday was attended by coaches from all strata of sports, including referees.
Speaking to sport journalists at the end of the event, the president of the body, Sir. Okechukwu Okabie said he was delighted that the program was successful. According to him, the essence of the program was to upgrade the potentials of the coaches, with a view of bringing them at par with realities of the profession. He regretted that though Rivers people love football, but their support to the growth of the game was nothing to writer home about.
Okabie decried those coaches that were absent from the seminar, noting that a lot of benefits abound from participating in such programs.
Also speaking, the coach of Dolphins Football club of Port Harcourt, Stanley Eguma said the coaches that attended the workshop are richer in knowledge.
He lauded the Rivers State coaches Association for deeming it fit to organize such programme to enhance the productivity of coaches in line with global trend in sports.
Eguma urged the government, well meaning individuals and the general public to support the efforts of the coaches to improve sports in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
On timing, the coach said, the ideal time for such program is now that the league had gone half way. He prayed that the seminar be more regular to achieve better results.
Lectures were delivered by resource persons on the Ethnics of coaching in the development of Sports and the coach, the player and the technics in football in Nigeria by Ralph Akunna and Pst. Walter Inegbenoise, FMR NFA board member.
In his speech at the event, the vice chairman of SWAN, Martins Giadom commended the journalists for gracing the occasion, as well as the coaches for organizing the program.
The SWAN spokesman called on the authorities to develop a playing culture for Nigeria, as it is applicable in the Western world.
He lamented the poor level of sports development in Rivers State, which he said SWAN was not comfortable with.
Giadom solicited partnership with the media to develop sports for the overall interest of the people. ###
Barth Ndu
