Athletes’ Welfare in Plateau State has been described as one that is sacrosanct to His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
This was stated by the Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Musa Ashoms, in his office when the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Plateau State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Alfred Saiki, accompanied by his Vice, Sammy Adesoji , the Treasurer, Kaneng Ladoja among others, paid him a courtesy visit .
Hon Ashoms, while welcoming the SWAN Exco, appreciated the effort of the association in promoting the sporting activities of the State to the world and urge the members to do more.
‘I will like to welcome you as partners in the propagation of the sporting activities of our various sporting Associations in the state.Without your efforts, our own will not be recognised, so we thank you very much’.
‘It is in this light that I want to tell you that the administration of HE, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has taken the Welfare of our Athletes as sacrosanct to avoid those we train to go compete for other states who offer them better packages and they go AWOL. Apart from other sports, football is also not exempted; our clubs get the best Welfare packages in Nigeria, you can ask Mighty Jets and Plateau United, so we are improving on it to make our Athletes feel better and do well for the state’.
The Hon Commissioner, used the occasion to commend the Marathoners in Vom and Pankshin, for the excellent job they are doing, purchasing a bus for themselves with the State only providing number plate and fuel whenever they want to travel. That more Athletes will be discovered to join the ones on ground.
‘We have spoken to the organisers of the Lagos Marathon, to come and organise the Jos Marathon before the year runs out, the plans are underway as it takes six months to organise but we are already preparing nine months before then. This is according to the statement of the Governor during the celebrations of his 60th birthday, that there will be a Marathon event in jos.But there will be a half marathon to test the waters’.
‘I want to also use this opportunity to thank the Marathoners in Vom and Pankshin, they’re doing great, they bought a bus by themselves with their money and whenever they have a competition, what we do is to give them a number plate and fuel the car. They are also contributing and when Plateau people participate in these events they come first or next behind Athletes from Kenya and other Eastern Africa countries. We could have others who will be discovered’.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Chess Association who are coming up with a robust proposal from some Americans to see how the Ministry can look into that angle and fund chess. Again, the leader of the team that uses the Azi Nyako Sport centre for basketball, has being made a member of the Basketball Association to tap from his knowledge.
On the National Sports Festival, the Commissioner said Athletes are already in different camps preparing, as the State is not leaving a stone unturned and their welfare is top notch.
Hon Ashoms, thereafter assured the SWAN leadership that their request will be met though might not be full.
