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RIVERS SPORTS COUNCIL RELOCATES TO AMIESIMAKA STADIUM

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After 51 years of the Rivers State Sports Council floating as tenants in different locations of Port Harcourt, it has now anchored at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex, Igwuruta-Ali as its permanent site.

The news of the relocation was announced by the Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye who disclosed that the approval for the relocation of the Council to a permanent site after its 51 years of existence signaled a new dawn in sports promotion and development in Rivers State.

Established by Edict No. 4 of 1969 as amended in 1972, the Rivers State Sports Council had its initial office complex at a bungalow owned by then Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) premises, using the Isaac Boro Park and the Port Harcourt Club Fields for training and local competitions.

The Council later transited to the Hotel Olympia, Old Rivers State House of Assembly, Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex (popularly known as The Civic Centre) and lastly at the Basket Ball Hostel, Port Harcourt.

The Sports Commissioner said the transit nature of the Council’s head office adversely affected its efforts in preparing for championships and other national and international competitions.

According to him, the Council’s transit head office also created major problems including communication challenges, disruption of effective implementation of policies and programmes in planning, training and execution, as well as resulted in damage to records, documents, materials and equipment.

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(L-R) AIPS Africa President, Mitchel Obi, Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State & AIPS President, Gianni Merlo, during the conferment of Power of Sports Award on Gov. Wike in Brussel, Belgium.

While maintaining that the move further attest to the commitment of Governor Wike in institutionalizing Sports development in Rivers State, Iyaye expressed gratitude to the Governor for relocating the Sports Council to the Sports Complex, which has ample space to accommodate its head office, association offices, equipment store, hostels, camping and training facilities.

He noted that the new development would go a long way in boosting the performance index of the Council, athletes and officials in competitions and Sports promotion.

The Sports Commissioner who directed the Permanent Secretary to work out modalities for a smooth relocation, charged staff of the Sports Council to embrace the new arrangements and give their best in support of Governor Wike’s desire to take sports in the State to a greater height.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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