The Rivers State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has hailed the appointment of accomplished sports administrator Christopher Green Esq. as the new Commissioner for Sports in the state.

Green and four others were on Saturday sworn in as Commissioners by Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike, CON, POS Africa, with the former Executive board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) assigned to take charge of the Sports Ministry.

Green’s appointment comes barely two weeks after the state owned club Rivers United, under his saddle, confirmed their status as champions of Nigeria’s elite league division, a feat achieved in a record-breaking fashion.

“The appointment of Chris Green as the new Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State is not totally unexpected because it has now gone beyond any reasonable doubt that he possesses the midas touch to make things happen in Sports administration,” SWAN Rivers chairman Sarah David said on Saturday.

“This is a testament to the popular saying that the reward for hardwork is more work. Green’s reputation goes before him everywhere he goes and the conquest of the NPFL by Rivers United shows that he has not lost a single bit of his magic wand.

“SWAN Rivers as an association is delighted with this development and we believe that Green will bring his technical nous into good use while in charge of the Ministry because there are a lot of grounds to cover within the next one year.

“We will also do our best as members of the Fourth Estate of the realm to work harmoniously with him to make his time as the Commissioner as successful as it can be for the state,” Ms David added.

Most imperative on Green’s desk as the Ministry’s helmsman is the 2022 National Sports Festival to be hosted by Delta state in November and also ensuring that Rivers United makes an appreciable impact while representing Nigeria in continental competitions starting in August.

Fisayo Dairo
Assistant Secretary

This is just as the Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Real Madrid Academy, Barrister Christopher Green, says the state government remains fully resolute in their quest of making the project the best ever in Africa.

Rohr, who showered encomiums on the structures, intentions, and executions made so far on the prestigious academy, stated this at the weekend when he was shown around the facility by Green.

After a comprehensive tour around the four different blocks of the Academy situated in the same surroundings as the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rohr could not hold back his admiration for the project and the facilitator, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In Rohr’s company for the tour were Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director Austin Eguavoen and Super Eagles’ Team Secretary Dayo Enebi Achor.

According to him, “The infrastructures are high level, it’s like in Europe and you can compare with one of the best academies in Europe like they have in Spain; Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia or in France in Paris (PSG) and in Germany in Bayern Munich.

“I think they (Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt) are ready to start this programme with these wonderful structures and also with the good pitch. It will be very interesting to see what they can do.

“I think the Governor has done great work and now they have to select the best players and bring some good players in a few years to the future,” said the 67-year old expatriate coach.

Aside from the outdoor facilities comprising of a football pitch and well-constructed swimming pool among others; Barrister Green took Rohr and his contingent round the academic blocks which house classrooms, staff rooms, student hostels, ICT rooms, Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories, Dining Halls and other meticulous provisions provided for in the well thought out structure.

Rohr specifically expressed delight in the academic aspect of the Real Madrid Academy.

“What I like is that it is not just football, but there is also the school side. There are teachers who will be coming because you are never sure to succeed in football and if you don’t succeed, there can be injuries, there can be other problems, it is good to have the school side also and that they did not forget it,” he said.

Eguavoen who has coached several Nigerian national teams in the past could also not hold back in his admiration while describing the quality of infrastructure put in place at the Treasure Base of the Nation.

“I am very impressed. What else can you ask for, for football development? Combining education with football is what we’ve been craving for and what we’ve come here to see today is wonderful, it is excellent and hopefully, we will gain from this in time to come.

“I don’t think any other academy will beat this (in Nigeria) except maybe if you come in here and you have an interest and are passionate about what you want to achieve and when you see this, you want to better this. But for now, I don’t think anyone will be able to better it,” he stated