From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi has attributed the state’s sporting excellence to Governor Douye Diri’s unwavering and steadfast passion for the development of sports.
Sir Wodi in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said since the governor assumed office as the state helmsman, he has not looked back in funding sports, describing the governor as a blessing to Bayelsa and beyond.
He noted that his relationship with the commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali and his management is also a factor behind Bayelsa’s success story, pointing out that the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who supervises the ministry, has made their job easier.
According to him, all the sporting associations in the state are flourishing as a result of the governor’s concern to see that the youths are positively engaged, maintaining that beyond funding, that government has ensured facilities are provided for athletes to train.
He explained that Bayelsa is not among the states that poach athletes, pointing out that there are many developmental programmes that have been put in place to discover athletes, particularly the “Bayelsa Future Aces Programme”.
Sir Wodi expressed appreciation to all the athletes, coaches, management and secretaries for the show of determination in the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, pointing out that the team may have come out short of the top position but the athletes gave their best in spite of obvious obstacles.
The Odi-born sports administrator urged everyone to learn from the experience of the Gateway Games and grow to become stronger, stating that this was not the time to look back, but time to brace up, dust off the shoes and march on with determination.
