By Our Correspondent

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Government Monday sealed a deal to deploy the Asoama Sports Academy in the state for growing grassroots sports and spotting young talents.

The deal was contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties on Monday following a visit to the academy by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr Sunday Dare.

The Minister revealed that the Asoama Sports Academy, with more than 300 students, has been added to the list of facilities that are up for adoption under the Adoption Initiative of the Ministry.

He said, “Asoama represents the model we really want where they can have education advancement side by side with sports development.

“In the spirit of this, the Ministry has thought it wise to partner with the Bayelsa State Government with regards to the Asoama Sports Academy and to as much as possible make it one of our resource centres.

“The MoU of course will in its letter and spirit will look at different levels of support over logistics. Also, the Ministry will partner international sporting agencies at the Federal Government level.

“I think that will go a long way to accelerate and deepen sports development in this country,” Mr Dare said.

Bayelsa state Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson expressed the confidence that the MoU will bring about “an improved, better developed sports academy”.

The governor expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing the Minister noting that his administration has brought a turnaround in sports development.