By ALBERT SOLOMON.
The President Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Igali says media presence in sport especially wrestling is a major catalyst to sport promotion in Nigeria.
Daniel Igali made this known during a press conference with Sport Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN, present at the National Youth Games upon his arrival from Serbia for the World Wrestling Championship.
He said team Nigeria has yet again recorded more medals success at the championship and lauded the Federal Government and Bayelsa State Government for the weighty sport given to the federation and promised to continue to fly the country's flag high.
President who is also the Bayelsa state sport commissioner said, the ongoing 7th National Youth Games, NYG, in Asaba should not just focus on winning medals but to scout for more promising talented athletes to be nurtured for replacement of the nation's aged elites athletes on the international scene.
Igali charged government across all levels to heavily in sports programs and policies to further stem the ugly trend of social vices in the country destroying the promising careers abundant across the country.
He frawned at the non budget provision for wresting Federation, despite positive impact made in the World major competitions, believing that good and transparent budget for Federations will enhance their performance.
He called on SWAN to add the message of "engage in sport and shun drugs" to their sport reportage to give the teeming youths a purpose of engagement and also called on government at all levels to invest more in sport seeing how much it takes to feed or rehab inmates and drug addicts.
The President of the Wrestling Federation enjoined the SWAN members to continue give wrestling the desired media publicity.
On his part, the National SWAN President Mr. Isaiah Kemje Benjamin appreciated the Wrestling Federation President for recognizing the role of SWAN in sport development and promotion and also commended the effort of the Wrestling Federation President to ensure Nigerian wrestlers' name are crested on the worlds' wrestling map.