The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya has charged the National Association of Judiciary Games (NASAJ) to use its forthcoming annual games billed for Port
Harcourt, the Rivers state capital next month to hunt talents for Nigeria ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
The lawmaker made the call over the weekend when the association’s executives led by its President, Mr. Emeka Ndili visited him at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
Gaiya said that the doors of athletes’ recruitment into various national teams are open to potential players that would make the country proud at the world fiesta.
Gaiya who was at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital for the last edition, called on other sporting sectors to emulate NASAJ in its giant steps to provide players that would represent the country locally, continentally as well as internationally.
“My committee will support any association that can provide prospective players to national teams ahead of the 2016 Olympics because what NASAJ is doing should be emulated by every sporting sector so that federations will have enough players for representations.
“I was at Uyo for the last edition, I saw what happen. It is worth emulating because NASAJ is doing the right thing towards sports development. By the grace of God my committee members would hit PortHarcourt to witness the tournament,” he assured.
Speaking earlier, president of NASAJ, Mr. Ndili assured the lawmaker that the association will work assiduously to ensure the tournament discovers talents for the country He revealed that the home-based Super Eagles captain, Chigozie Agbim started his football career at Court of Appeal FC Abuja.
Emeka, who could not hide his feelings towards the lawmaker, described him as a real sports genius given his humility and good sports policies that are yielding success for Nigeria.
Peoples Daily Sports gathered that ten sporting events would be featured at the tournament. These include football, handball, badminton, chess, table-tennis, athletics, scrabble, draught, Ayoo and volleyball.
