Project 2027, a Community Sports and Education Development initiative got a boost recently with the training of 38 Physical Education teachers on netball .
The training which was in conjunction with the state Ministry of Education held at the table tennis hall of the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar is part of efforts of the organization to provide Nigerian school children and youths access to learn and play the game of netball in a safe environment.
Netball,the only known sports designed for the girl child and women generally is intended to be used to promote their well being and empower them to blend sports with academics.
Participants drawn from secondary schools in the state included three Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroon Community in Adagom1, and 3 and Ukende camps in Ogoja.
The training which covered the basics of netball playing was followed by a practice game between newly trained coaches.
Making her remarks at the event, the Director of Schools in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Okama U Amos commended the initiative for targeting the female gender and urged participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in the sport.
Mrs Amos promised to work with the Director of School Sports in the Ministry, Mr Orlando Asuquo to effectively monitor the use of the donated netball starter packs to ensure they are safe and put into proper use.
Also speaking, the Director of Sports, State Sports Commission, Mr Moses Ita urged the participants to make good use of skills acquired during the training and tasked them to ensure that their post training activities lead to the development of the game of netball in the state.
Mr Ita assured of the Sports Commission deliberate efforts towards spreading the sports in the state and that the game of netball would soon become a medal event in the National Sports Festival..
The Seminar/ training was facilitated by Edema Fuludu and Dr. Grace Ataha, supported by Ifiok Inim, an Uyo based Secondary School Physical Education teacher.
Dr Ping Osaji Nsagha of the Human Kinetic Department of the University of Calabar was among the newly trained coaches who were taught to rudiments of the game, rules, application, how to mark a netball Court and others essentials of the game.
Victor Udu, Beagle News
