Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Ifeanyi Anagwu, Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Sports Association (ESTSA) Board, has said the association will popularize and sensitize people about traditional sports by organizing competitions across the 17 local government areas of the state.
He explained that the initiative aims to discover sporting talents in traditional wrestling and other indigenous games that abound in the state.
Anagwu made this known while addressing newsmen shortly after the inauguration of the board in Enugu.
According to him, the board’s goals include creating strategic awareness about traditional sports and ensuring that Enugu State wins medals in them during the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in the state.
“The goals are ambitious, but it is a step-by-step process,” he said.
“First, we will create awareness about games such as ncho, traditional wrestling, abula, and other indigenous sports. We must strategically prepare for the festival holding in Enugu next year, select athletes, and provide them with constant training.”
Anagwu noted that ncho is widely played in the state, emphasizing that it does not require physical exertion but suffers from lack of awareness and sponsorship.
He added that schools would be contacted to participate, and results would begin to manifest in the next two months.
“We will be holding a board meeting next week. We need equipment for wrestling, ncho, abula, and others, and part of the programme has already been scheduled.
“For now, we are trying to equip ourselves. We also need a proper location for wrestling. What matters is the intensity and vision we bring to the project; once we achieve our targets, traditional sports will thrive,” he said.
Anagwu expressed optimism that within four years, significant progress would have been achieved in promoting traditional sports in Enugu State.
He further explained that most modern sporting events, including football in Great Britain, originated as traditional sports before gaining global recognition.
The chairman assured that traditional sports will win medals for Enugu State in the forthcoming Coal City 2026 Games.
