By Raymond Enoch
The Director of Sport, Taraba State Sports Council, Mr. George Shitta says the State has recorded tremendous success in several fields of the sports sector despite challenges faced by the industry in the state.
Mr. Shitta who disclosed this in an Exclusive chat with Ziti News, said that there are several other untapped sports potentials in Taraba State appealed to the private sector to invest in sports development in the State to enable it attain greater heights.
He said that athletes have made remarkable achievement and won gold and bronze medals to the state in both national and international sports activities with little or no support.
“Like in Badminton Taraba State has won every medal that there is to win in Africa, Taraba State won in Ethiopia in 2006, won all the Africa Junior, both singles and doubles, then moved on to win the Africa Senior in Morocco, and before then we were National Champions represented Nigeria at the commonwealth championship in India in 2012, we have been the best in Africa” he said.
Shitta who is also a couch and a board member of the Badminton Council of Nigeria said sports like Volleyball, Badminton and related sports have given Taraba State a sterling heights lauded the efforts of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku for supporting the major sports competitions despite paucity of funds, assured that athletes can do more if given the right funding environment.
On the dilapidated state of some part of the Jolly Nyame Statdium, Shitta express worry over the low interest of the private sector to invest in the maintenance of the state edifice which he prides remains one of the best in Nigeria.
“We are doing our best to use the resources and facilities at our disposal to bring out the best from our many good athletes in the state, currently we are trying to upgrade our facilities, we have reached out to people to help us upgrade our facilities especially the Tattered tracks, the tracks are not in good shape” he said.
“I have always said that government alone cannot develop sports in Taraba State, private individuals must come in to help develop the sports industry, so as to enable our teaming youths get gainfully employed, there would be peace when this youths are engaged through sports”
“Sports is also a means of entertainment for the society, we have a lot to gain if we join hands to develop our sports sector”
“We had some little challenges, but by next year, Taraba united football club is going to come out in full force, we acknowledge how much sports contributes, especially football” he explained.
Mr. Shitta said that Philanthropist and well to do individuals in the state can adopt an athlete as a means of supporting his or her capacity sports development,.
Watch the full interview on Ziti TV on www.zitionline.com