Police sports officer wants playing fields in Enugu schools

The Sports Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, Kyrian Igwe, has called for government policy making it mandatory for private and public schools in the state to build playing fields.

Igwe, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, gave the charge in an interview with newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

He said the development would encourage sports development among the students.

He said it was unacceptable for the state ministry of education to approve schools that had no provision for playing fields.

According to him, playing field is the cradle of all sporting activities of a child.

“It should not be toyed with as far as the sporting and physical development of the child is concerned.

“The education ministry needs to take the first step of ensuring that each school has a spacious playing field for children to exercise themselves.

“It will also help them to develop the passion for any sports of their interest.

“This is the cradle of all development in sports so government should not deny the children this privilege.

“It is clear that not every child might be educationally gifted as their contemporaries.

“However, children that are not educationally gifted could have talents in sports or practical games,’’ Igwe said.

He further said that he discovered a lot of potential in the children of the state, especially in sporting activities that require height and physical contact.

“Due to the early growth among children in the state they would do well in sports that require height, like athletes, basketball and volleyball.

“The early growth will also help them fit into physical contact sports such as taekwondo, karate, judo, among others because they will have the stamina to stand the rigour,’’ Igwe said.