Delta State Government has splashed mouth-watering monetary rewards on the victorious Super Eagles for their gallant achievement at the just concluded African Cup of Nations football tournament in South Africa.
The State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced the rewards at a reception/banquet in honour of the national team, Thursday night at Asaba, said that the gesture was in recognition of the feat recorded by the team and the joy brought to Nigerians by it.
The team coach, Stephen Keshi was rewarded with the re-naming of Asaba Township Stadium after him in addition to eight million naira cash gift, a plot of land in Asaba with a pledge to assist to build aduplex on the land.
The four assistant coaches got four million naira each, while each player was given two and half million naira each. In addition, each past and present player in the winning team received two and a half million naira with players of Delta State origin getting extra two and a half million naira.
The Super Eagles Supporters Club received three million naira while the State-funded Warri Wolves Football Club got five million naira.
Governor Uduaghan disclosed that the on-going contract for the reconstruction of the Asaba stadium has been revoked and that the state will complete the job in six months time to enable it be put to good use.
According to him, the Super Eagles victory was a significant spiritual re-awakening in the life of the country and the beginning of positive things to come just in football but also in the nation’s quest for unity.
The governor explained that the state’s investments in sports was yielding positive dividends manifesting in its number one position in sports as well as meaningfully engaging the youths some of which have made it to the Super Eagles team and other sports.
He lauded the Illah Community in Oshimili South local government area of the state, for producing great football talents like Stephen Keshi, Mr Ofuokwo, Chief John Oganwu and renowned sports administrator, Chief John Ojudoh , promising to take measures that would harness the talents and skills of youths in Illah.
Besides, the governor charged youths in the state to key into the state government’s Human Capital Development agenda and the various youth empowerment programmes as the state government was poised to positively channel their skills into useful ventures and to reward achievers in all fields.
In his remarks, Keshi commended Dr Uduaghan for his kind gesture in rewarding the team and renaming the Asaba Township Stadium after him.
He promised that the team would continuously work hard to win more laurels for the nation and appealed for more support from Nigerians.
Earlier, Chief John Oganwu, a member of the 1972 Green Eagles commended Dr Uduaghan for his contributions to the growth of sports in Nigeria and his recognition of past football heroes.
He charged sports authorities in the country to recognise local content in sports development and support local coaches to excel in their assignments.
Chief Oganwu asked sports authorities to emulate the Delta State sports template in order to ensure growth in sports development.
He also commended the infrastructural development in the state especially the Asaba International Airport which he described as a world class project and urged Dr Uduaghan to keep up the good work and leave lasting legacies in the state.
In a related development, the Delta state governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged sport heroes to give back to the society through the mentoring programme and develop the sporting talents of teeming youths.
The state governor who gave the charge when the victorious Super Eagles paid him a courtesy call in Asaba said it was important for the youths to have mentors to enable them channel their talents positively.
According to him ‘’The state government is working out a programme to ensure that our sporting heroes help mentor our younger ones to become great sportsmen’’.
He enjoined the sporting heroes to key into the programme to enable the state achieve its dream and maintain its top position in sports in the country.
His words ‘’Sports is one of the key points in the actualisation of the Delta beyond oil policy and the state will continue to support sports to enable the youths utilize their skills’’.
While congratulating the team for winning the championship Dr Uduaghan commended the coach for his resilience and patience in giving his best even when people doubted the ability of the team to deliver.
The governor promised the state government’s continuous support for the team and prayed that the team would continue to excel in all their future competitions.
Dr Uduaghan also reiterated the state government’s peace and security agenda and assured all deltans and indeed Nigerians that the era of kidnapping was over in the state.
Emphasizing further he said ‘’We are waging war against kidnappers. In fact we are rechannelling the youth’s energy towards positive endeavours and kidnapping is not one of them’’.
He advised youths in the state to key into the various youth empowerment and development schemes so as to harness their talents positively.
Dr Uduaghan announced that the state government has allocated a plot of land to the team coach Stephen Keshi and promised to put up a befitting structure for him.
The governor thanked the President Dr Goodluck Jonathan for giving the state the opportunity to host the victorious Super Eagles.
Speaking earlier the Chief Coach Stephen Keshi expressed his gratitude to Nigerians for their support throughout the AFCON competition.
While stating that his goal at the championship was to bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians he promised that his team would continue to improve and ensure that Nigeria takes its pride of place in the African football map.
In his brief remark, the Chairman Delta State Sports Commission Mr Amaju Pinnick informed the gathering that Nigeria now ranked 30th in the recently released FIFA ranking.
He said that the victorious Super Eagles would serve as role models for the younger ones and they represent the mentoring spirit advocated by Governor Uduaghan at the sports summit held in Asaba.
Present at the occasion were members of the state executive council and former members of the Green Eagles including Mr Owolo, Mr Jossy Dumbrayie, Mr Etimike Godwin, Mr John Oganwu and Mr Dediarie.
FlashPoint News 