Former African champion in athletics, Chief Dr. Mbanefo Akpom has advised Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state to make sports development a priority as he marches on towards reelection.
He also pledged his total support towards this initiative if called upon.
Akpom, who is the founder of Mbanefo Akpom Sports Development Foundation (MASDEF) spoke in a telephone chat from his home in California, noting regrettably that, “Anambra used to be a nest of sports champions but not anymore.”
Akpom, who hails from Onitsha, Anambra state, and is a former African high jump, decathlon, and Nigerian 110m hurdles champion, recalled when Nigeria was represented by most athletes from Anambra state, regretting that it is no longer the case.
An example of this downward trend in track and field excellence in Anambra state came at the recently held National Sports Festival, in which Anambra state took 26th position.
Akpom points at the deplorable state and non-maintenance of stadia and other sports facilities in the state and country in general as the chief culprit in the gloomy picture being painted about sports in Nigeria.
“I suggest that aside from roads and other infrastructure development, sports development is also very important, and the Anambra government should invest in it, so as to score points in international sports diplomacy.
“Without proper sports grounds, it will be hard to produce. I am ready to support this initiative in many ways than one, if called upon,” he noted