Ifeanyi Anagwu
Ifeanyi Anagwu, Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Sports Association (ESTSA) Board, has said that the association would popularise, and sensitise people about traditional sports by Organising traditional-sports competitions across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He said this was to enable the association discover sporting talents in traditional wrestling, and other traditional-sports that abound in the state.
Anagwu said this while addressing newsmen shortly after the inauguration of the board in Enugu.
He further revealed that the goals of the board were to strategically create awareness about the games and ensure that Enugu state wins medals from traditional sports during the forthcoming National Sports Festival Scheduled to hold in the state.
He said: “The goals are expensive, but it is a step by step thing.
“First is to create awareness about the games including ncho, traditional wrestling, abula and other traditional-sports.
“We have to strategically create awareness about the games and to prepare for the festival that will hold in Enugu next year.
“And then create awareness for the people and select athletes and do constant training for the athletes.”
He said that a lot of people play ncho, adding that, it did not require physical exertion.
“The problem is lack of awareness and sponsorhip”,he said.
According to him, schools would be contacted, and expectedly in the next two months or more the results would start showing.
“We will be having board meeting next week.
“We need equipment for wrestling ncho, abula etc. Part of the programme has been scheduled.
“For now we are trying to equip ourselves; we need location where wrestling can be done.
“How much intensity and vision we have is what matters; when we achieve what we want to achieve the sports will explode, ” Anagwu said.
He expressed the hope that in the four years time, a lot would have been achieved in traditional sports in the state.
Anagwu explained that most sporting events started as traditional-sport including Football in Great Britain, and now It is recognised as an international sport all over the world.
He assured that traditional-sports, events will win medals for the State in the forthcoming CoalCity 2026 Games.
