Up to 15,000 athletes are expected to participate on Anambra State Sports Solution Initiative (ANSSI 2023), an event organised to revive and groom grassroots sports.
The Chairman, Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr Patrick-Estate Onyedum, who disclosed this in an interactive session with members of Anambra State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra State chapter, explained that the game would hold across private and public primary and secondary schools in all the 181 communities.
Onyedum, represented by Olu Sule, the technical consultant of the Commission, added that the event would feature Athletics for U13 and U16; Basketball U 16; Chess U13 and U17; Football, U13 and U17.
Others are Scrabble U13 and U17; Swimming U17; Table tennis U13 and U17; Tennis U17; Taekwondo U13 and U17; Volleyball U17; and Cricket exhibition.
According to him, registration started since April 18 to last till May 12, while intra community and intercommunity events beginning May 17 to May 19, to be continued at the Local Government level from May 25 to May 26, Zonal level between June 9 and 10, and State level and grand finale holds from June 21 to 24, 2023.
“Every community will select one team to represent them at the Local Government level. At the Local Government level, two successful teams will move to represent the council area at the district (senatorial zone) and two best teams to emerge from each zone will represent their zones at the State level. But all the participating teams will still answer their names (names of schools) even while representing communities, LG or Senatorial zones.
“As the game is going on, there will be scouting of talents from the community level up to the State level. The selected talents will be called to the camps during the school vacation for mix sports (sports academic and field training). All intending schools whether privately or government owned, must obtain a registration form to be filled and duly signed by the school principal, and submitted at appropriate place,” he said.
He urged schools and individuals to make maximum use of the opportunities as the talents to be discovered and groomed from the sporting events would be representing Anambra State in future national and international games.
