By Ebube Dike

A Non-governmental Organization, NGO, Community Sports and Educational Development, CSED Initiatives has began the actualisation of its “Project 2027” programme with the training of 21 Physical and Health Education, PHE teachers as netball officials in Edo State, South-South Nigeria.

The two-day capacity training which held at the Utoka Town in Ovia North-East Local Government, saw 21 new netball practitioners being taking through the basics, theoretical and practical aspects of the game of netball.

The event which led to the training of 21 new netball practitioners involved both theory and the practical aspect of netball training programme that was drafted by current INF (International Netball Federation) Ambassador, Mary Waya.

Utoka Town Hall was used as the venue for the theory aspect of the training, while the practical aspect of the event was held at the playground of Utoka Primary School.

According to Coordinator of CSED Initiatives and former Super Eagles star, Mr Edema Fukudu, he told Best Choice Sports in interview that “This taster event is the first to be held in Nigeria by Nigerian trained netball coaches who are certified by Netball Africa.

“Six of these coaches were led by my humble self as I took the trainees through basic netball drills which include netball rules, warming up drills, netball positions, passing and catching the ball, dodging, marking, shooting the ball and footwork movement as well as game planning.”

The Enogie of Utoka, His Royal Highness, HRH, Ambassador Airomwanbor Ogiemwonyi was the host of the event and he ensured that everything went smoothly.

At the end of the event, basic netball kits/equipment (netball rims, training bibs, whistles and netball balls) were presented to PHE Teachers of the six participating schools and representatives of Utoka and the other adjoining communities.

Mr Fuludu disclosed further that the organizers of event (CSED Initiative), hopes to use the lessons learned from holding the successful event to finetune their other planned series of two-day netball training events that will hold in other towns in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

Best Choice Sports can report that the beginning of “Project 2027” is a good example of the organizers’ attempt to gradually develop netball from the grassroots level in Nigeria.

“Project 2027” policy is aimed at promoting netball at the grassroots and training of 1200 teachers in Physical Education across the country