Daily Independent Online.
*
Thursday, July 08, 2004.
Abia
commissioner preaches honour for sportsmen
By Tasie Theodore
Special
Correspondent,
Owerri
Nigerians have been
told to honour their fellow countrymen who achieved feats for the country while
still alive instead of giving post-humous awards.
Hon Stanley
Chukwuemeka, Abia State Commissioner for Works, made this plea in an interview
during the week 20 Globacom / Premier league game between Enyimba and Kano
Pillars at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba.
He said it has
become necessary so as to encourage people put in their best and their
resources in order to promote development in the country be it sports, technology
or other human endeavours.
The commissioner
recalled that Gov. Orji Kalu was the brain behind Nigeria’s victory in
the African Champions Cup competition, which eluded the country for more than
38 years.
According to him,
the presidency and the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) should have accorded
the governor recognition by now, pointing out that Nigeria should recommend the
likes of Kalu to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
He stated that
until Nigerians take over the key positions in CAF in line with the resources
expended by the country, other nations would still deny Nigeria its rightful
position in the Africa’s highest soccer ruling body. He frowned at the
manipulations which denied Nigeria Super Eagles captain JayJay Okocha, the
African best football of the year 2002, and directed that Nigeria should give
massive support to Dr. Amos Adamu at CAF while nurturing others to be there
with him to give him support.
Hon Emeka asked
Nigerians to rally round Eagles Coach Christian Chukwu and give him support
through out the campaigns for the 2006 Nations/ World cup.
