Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, on Wednesday, said the remodeled Uyo Township Stadium is expected to discover more sporting talents for the state.
Emmanuel said this during the inauguration of the remodeled Uyo Township Stadium in Uyo.
He said that in the last eight years, his administration had built sports facilities in which talents had been discovered for the state, and competing nationally and internationally.
According to him, in the last eight years, the state government has constructed and remodeled Stadiums in Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo and the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“I have left a lot of legacies. When we started, we said that it will get to a time when every national team will a minimum of 40 to 50 indigenes from Akwa Ibom because we are providing best facilities for our people to excel.
“Today, if our teams go on competition and they have to play on synthetic pitch they will not be found wanting because they have one of the best synthetic pitches in Nigeria, which is what you are seeing in this stadium and also in Eket stadium.
“Today, we are trying to pull people from all senatorial districts to harness their athletes and begin to hunt and bring them out and expose them.
“That is why you see us building these facilities in Eket, Uyo and Ikot-Ekpene, so that people can easily be identified, encouraged and can easily be supported,” he said.
Emmanuel called on the in-coming Government to ensure proper maintenance of the sports facilities to ensure its sustenance to attract sporting activities into the state.
He added that the maintenance culture exhibited by the state government had made it possible for the state to host UEFA Cup competition in Uyo.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Monday Uko, commended the governor for his interest in developing sports facilities in the state.
Uko thanked Uyo community youths for their support to ensure peace throughout the construction period.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Mr Paul Bassey, said that Emmanuel’s eight years administration witnessed the development of many sports infrastructure.
Bassey said that it was during the administration that Akwa United FC won the 2020/2021 NPFL title for the first time.
“Gov. Udom Emmanuel in his eight years has done more for sports than any other governor before him.
“Today, we are living witnesses to sports infrastructure he has built in the state, the Eket township stadium, Uyo township stadium and behind us here is an Olympic size swimming pool that was put together in less than three weeks.
“This state, in the period of Gov Udom Emmanuel reign, has hosted all that can be hosted in this country.
“Just recently, FIFA and CAF declared that the Super Eagles can only play in Uyo because no stadium could fit their standard,” Bassey said.
NAN
