Bayelsa State has emerged the overall champion of the second edition
of the Governor Dickson National Wrestling Classics, which took place
at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex,
Yenagoa.
Speaking at the event, Governor Seriake called for synergy between the
state government and the Federal Ministry of Sports, as well as other
interested partners in the sub sector for the development of the
State’s Sports Academy, Asoama in Kolokuma Opokuma local government
area.
Describing the sports facility as a centre for excellence, he
emphaisized that, the partnership was crucial to enable youths excel
in sporting and academic activities, as the academy has the capacity
to accommodate 1000 students, equipped with boarding and other
facilities.
Governor Dickson who said Bayelsa is a natural home of wrestling,
announced the state government’s plans to host the national wrestling
tournament annually and also directed the state Ministry of Sports
Development to organise state-wide wrestling competitions to fish out
budding talents.
While congratulating the participants in the wrestling competition,
the Governor advocated the need to promote sports development as a
viable platform for the mobilisation of youths for national
development.
In his remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung
lauded the Governor Dickson-led administration for its investments,
not only in sports infrastructure, but also in sporting activities,
especially in the area of wrestling.
Mr. Dalung identified sports as a veritable tool for the promotion of
national integration, employment and wealth creation, noting that,
sports could also be used to promote a healthy lifestyle.
As a deliberate policy of the federal government to involve the
private sector in sports development, he equally charged state
governments to key into the policy by promoting various sporting
events, where they have comparative advantage to make for easy
management of sports in the country.
Speaking earlier at the inauguration of the Daniel Igali Recreation
Centre in Yenagoa, President of the National Wrestling Federation and
former Olympic Wrestling Gold medalist, Mr. Daniel Igali said the
facility was provided to enable elite athletes train properly.
He expressed the hope that in the next 3 months, the facility would
secure accreditation from the International Wrestling Federation and
attract internationally recognised coaches to train wrestlers at the
facility.
The winners of the various weight classes of the Governor Henry
Seriake Dickson National Wrestling Classics, which featured
competitions in Greco-Roman, Female and Male Free-style wrestling will
represent Nigeria at the African Championship scheduled to hold later
in the year in Marakesh, Morocco.
Defending Champions, Bayelsa emerged victorious in the Greco-Roman,
the Male and Female Free-style categories to retain the over-all
trophy.