Torugbene Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State has called on the state government to build a mini stadium in the community to encourage the youths in the area, especially in the area of swimming sport.
Pereotubo Oweilaemi, President, Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) worldwide, who made the call in a statement, maintained that Torugbene Community had added so much values to the state in no smaller measure in terms sports contributions.
He maintained that the community has produced veritable sports’ men and women who had won so many prizes to the state.
He stressed that in the area of swimming, Torugbene indigenes had won uncountable number of medals for the state, incluing gold silver and bronze in the National Sports Festival at various times.
“It would be recalled that former Governor Onanefe Ibori, in an acknowledgement of the community’s indigenes to the sport development of the state, had promised to build mini stadium with swimming pool during his administration to specifically honour one Miss Blessing Opuakpo, who won a number of gold medals at the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2004.
“Though the promise was not fulfilled, it is necessary to draw the attention of the present governor, His Excellency, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the need to build mini stadium with swimming pool in Torugbene community in order to boost the morale of the sports men and women from the community who have been given victories to the state at the various NSF.”
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He maintained that from 2004 to date, Torugbene citizens have won a good number of prizes for the state.
The IYC boss gave the breakdown of some of the prizes won by Torugbene people at the NSF, saying that Blessing Forcados won eight gold medals at the NSF held in Abuja in 2004; two gold medal at the NSF in Gateway, Ogun State in 2006.
He said: “Samson Opuakpo won six gold medals at the NSF, Abuja in 2004; eight gold medals at the NSF held in Gateway, Ogun State in 2006 and nine gold medals at the NSF held in Kada, Kaduna State in 2009.
“Otobodo Owaren won eight gold medals at the NSF held in Kada, Kaduna State in 2009, eight silvers and two bronze at the NSF held in the Garden City, Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2011; six gold medals and four silver at the NSF held in Eko City, Lagos in 2012 Lagos.
“Tebesa Nemine won four gold medals and two silver at the NSF held in Abuja in 2004; four gold medals and two silver at the NSF held in Gateway, Ogun State in 2006, four gold medals and three silver at the NSF held in Kada, Kaduna State in 2009.
“Kingsley Forcados won seven gold medals at the NSF held in Eko City, Lagos in 2012; Duke Eniyekenimi won two silver at the NSF held in Eko City, Lagos, in 2012, two gold medals and one silver at the NSF held in Abuja in 2018 and Jonah Forcados won one gold medal at the NSF held in Abuja in 2018, among others.
“It is regrettable that upon all these laudable achievements in the area of sports development, Torugbene athletes have no modern facilities to train the upcoming swimmers. These enthusiastic athletes used the open river to engage in training which is dangerous due to the water current from the River Niger.
“Unfortunately, just some few days ago, Torugbene community was thrown into mourning over the painful death of one of the swimming trainees, Master Tamarakru Oweiware, who got drown in the process of training because of the water current.
“Such painful death would have been avoided if the government had built swimming facilities in the community.
“Considering the contributions of Torugbene people to the sport development of Delta State, we humbly request the governor to build mini stadium with swimming pool in Torugbene community. Such gesture will add more value to the state in sport development.”
