By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
The Executive Chairman, Delta Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, has at the weekend tasked Warri Wolves and Delta Queens Football Club on need to improve their performances , stressing that the state government was determined to take sporting activities in the state to the next level.
Okowa gave the charge while presenting the two Totyota Costal buses bought by the State Government to the two club sides at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The Chairman, said that the compliant of the clubs were presented to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, who graciously granted their request by approving that the two clubs be given brand new costal buses in order to boost their morals.
He said though, the clubs, particularly Warri Wolves are not doing well but expressed hope that with the presentation of the buses and the full payment of salaries and bonuses up to date by the governor, their performance would increase.
According to the chairman, the governor was briefed on the conditions of the costal buses the two clubs were using; one was bought in 2004 and the other in 2007; as a matter of fact, those buses are old.
“We appreciate the governor for the approval and this is the result as two brand new costal buses are being presented to the two clubs today.
“We expect the this will encourage them and it will be a king of moral booster for them because they have been complaining about the vehicles which frequently broke down on the way.
“We hope that the clubs do a lot better then they have been doing. And for the Warri Wolves, at the able they are not doing well, though they have been playing tougher teams at the league, this is why they had one loss and one draw at home.
“This has accounted to why they are sitting at the relegation zone, but I want to believe that they will keep their promises to do better and I am going to closely monitor them to ensure they come out of the relegation zone soon”.
On his part, the Director General, State Sports Commission, Mr Chris Anazia, lauded the governor for approving the two buses, adding that such gesture would impact on the performance of the club.
Receiving the bus, the Chief Executive Officer, Warri Wolves Football Club, Mr Moses Etu, lauded the governor and the Sports Commission, saying “ it is the dawn of a new era”.
“The bus we are using before now was bought 18 years ago but Gov. Okowa has given us a brand new bus and besides, he also gave a brand new Toyota Sienna to the technical crew.
“Also, two week ago, the governor approved the release of funds to off set the salaries and bonuses of players.
“We say thank you to the governor, he has done well and he has given us the challenge to reciprocate these gesture which we will do by God’s grace.
“ Warri Wolves is born again, the players are happy, it is now left for them to perform but whosoever fails to perform shall be shown the way out, “ Etu said.
On her part, Mrs Henrietta Ihebor, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Queens, thanked the Gov. Okowa and the commission while pledging their commitment to do better.
While confirming that the club side has been paid all it’s entitlements, said the target is for the club to be at the top of the league table.
The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the vehicles key to the CEO’s of the club side by Chief Tonobok Okowa.
