A stakeholder in the sports development circle in Nigeria and Rivers State, Barr. Kwashi Thompson has appealed to well to do individuals to consider extremely talented local athletes for sponsorship.
According to the father of handball in Rivers State, this will help build and develop the growth of sports at the local and state level. He pointed out that there are good athletes in the shores of Nigeria, here and there, but the problem is in the terms of sponsorship of these athletes, even if they are discovered from the grassroots.
Barr. Thompson is the chairman of Rivers State Handball Association and first Vice President of the Nigeria Handball Federation (NHF), advised the various sporting federations and state sports Associations to do well also to partner with corporate and individual sports loving concerned citizens, who are passionate about a particular sport for the good of the sport, to sponsor atleast, one or two athletes who they think they can sponsor to limelight.
The Rivers born sports technocrat opined that if these happens, it will boost the growth of sports in both local and national sports. He also added that the athletes have to be discovered first, to discover the athletes, he said the various associations would be organizing school sports and have a partnership deal with those who have interest in sports.
“Gone are the days government does everything. Sports is the greatest employer of labour. He said, individuals and corporate organizations key into sponsoring athletes, it would mean that they have taken care of employment and youth restiveness, and ofcourse, created the enabling environment for youths to step up to discovering their God given sports talent to put food on their table. ###
