The Akwa Ibom Government has officially announced the placement of two of its five football clubs for sale to enable the state develop other sporting activities.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Ita Umoh, disclosed this on Saturday in Uyo at the closing ceremony of 2012 Media Games.
The Games was organised by the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
Umoh said that the two amateur league clubs offered for sale were the seven-month-old Akpabio Stars for males and Unoma Babes for females.
“We want private organisations, individuals or local governments in the state to take over the management of these clubs.
“It is not going down well with the ministry. The ministry always shows too much interest in football to the neglect of other sports,” Umoh said.
The other three clubs under the sponsorship of the state government were premier league contender, Akwa United and two female teams, Ibom Angels and Akwa Starlets, all of Uyo.
Umoh said that the state government only disbanded the management committee of Akwa Starlets and not the club.
According to him, the dissolution of the committee was aimed at repositioning the club as a feeder team to Akwa United.
He said that the Olympic size stadium in the state would be ready for use in two years time and as such athletes from the state would not go to other states for training.
The commissioner said that the state would in September host a 15 million dollars prize money international scrabble tournament tagged: Akpabio Classics.
He said that the competition was aimed at exposing the state players.
Umoh said the state government would partner the state SWAN, and urged the scrabble event winner at the Games to register for the competition.
The eight chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Akwa Ibom council, contested in the football event at the Games.
The event was won by the TV chapel of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation. (NAN)