Billiardboard Competition: Government ‘ll support youth dev —Sports Commissioner
By Femi Atolagbe
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Ondo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye has said the state government will support any activity that will promote the well-being of the teeming youth population in the state.
Yusuf-Ogunleye stated this at the just concluded JOY HEYBALL MASTERS DIVISION 1 TOUR QUALIFIER playoffs at Fourteen75 Lounge, Akure organised by the Snooker and Pool Players Alliance (SPPA ).
The commissioner said the state would like to collaborate with the body of the association to introduce the sport to the state sports council and get involved in the sport.
He said sports is now a business and will ensure the state keyed into the future as he was sure more games would be recognized in the nearest future.
“I am here because I want to be here, anything for the youth ,I want to be there, I am here for the first time and I am delighted to be here.
”Sports is now a business and I have listened to the SPPA president and I am here and have seen it all and I want to assure you that as a ministry, this will be part of our sports in Ondo State.
“So many things can be done using sports for empowerment of our youths among others.
”We will ensure that we expose people of Ondo State to the sport.
It would be recalled that the winner of the competition would represent Nigeria in China with the aim of winning the prize.
In his welcome address, the President of SPPA, Mr Francis Idada Joachim appreciated the Commissioner for gracing the final day of the event and reeled out the benefits participants stood to gain at the event.
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Idada said the event was to select a player that will represent the country in China with a chance to winning $83,000 prize.
He said the country has youth restiveness, saying sports is one of the ways to re-focus their attention to greatness, hence! The need to rededicate them and use Heyballl Pool as one of the avenues.
“Nigeria has a youth problem which we believe need a new direction. This event is to select a player to represent Nigeria in Joy Heyball Masters competition which will be hosted in China. We have the Nigeria top Pool players participating in this event. I am glad this arena will be a new centre for (SPPA) Events,” he said.
Nigeria Number one player, Bamidele Shehu emerged winner of the competition and will represent Nigeria later in the year in China for the competition.
