The immediate past administration of Amaechi had done well to provide the state a befitting boxing facility in Port Harcourt city, situated in old Port Harcourt township.
While the Boxing fans and stakeholders commend the governor on his good gesture, there is a challenge facing cooperate sponsors, the state ministry of sports for not organizing a boxing competition to test run the facility like the No. 1 Field at Bende Street, Town Port Harcourt. For now, a very nice facility lies there unused.
While there are many boxing talents in abundant in the state. this calls for a prompt attention before the facility becomes something else as rust may claim the entire facility, thereby making it difficult for the state to put it into use in a later date.
It is on record that Rivers State use to be the home of boxers in the good old days when government takes sports serious.
According to records available, Rivers State use to produce national boxers and these boxers had made the country proud.
The boxing facility is for boxing talents, and without competition the facility would be inefficient, does not mean anything to the boxing talents, putting the facility into use through competition will discover more boxing talents for Rivers State and Nigeria.
For this to happen, the Rivers State ministry of Sports could go into partnership with private organizations, corporate community or even an individual. Those whom have through boxing had made their fame like Sokari Soberekon or the likes.
It is not out of place to have Rev. Dr. Sokari Soberekon in a committee to plan how the sports could be revived back in the state. The committee if so set up, should be concerned about seeking, wooing for a sponsor to be organizing or sponsoring boxing competition from time to time.
The likes of High Chief Comrade Ateke Tom could be useful to the state in this venture.
The time to plan, take action is now, tomorrow may be too late. ###
