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By Ebube Dike

A new milestone has been recorded by Non-governmental Organization, NGO Community Sports and Educational Development, CSED Initiative after Delta State College of Education, COEM declared its readiness to partner with the NGO in training of netball coaches in Delta State, bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

This is as the CSED in its determination to train over one thousand Physical and Health Education, PHE teacher has carried out the training exercise on 41 trainees in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.

The Director of Sports of COEM, Glory Orugbo who was among the seven staff of the College that participated at the free training clinic aimed at teaching PHE Teachers the basic skills (theory and practical) of netball so, that they can impart the knowledge gained into their students.

Speaking after training, Glory Orugbo said that the College would be keen to partner with CSED Initiative in organizing future training programme that is geared towards developing the capacity of PHE Teachers and grassroots Coaches in the area and in Delta State. Glory Orugbo was full of praises for the way the event organizers handled the two-day event.

This is as the “PROJECT 2027” training tour of the Niger Delta area landed in the town of Mosogar (Delta State), an event that led to the training of 41 PHE Teachers and College of Education Lecturers, by Netball Africa certified Coaches.

The two-day event was held on 14th and 15th of July 2022 at the Indoor Sports Hall of Delta State College of Education, Mosogar (COEM). Among the 41 new netball coaches were seven staff of COEM who are Lecturers or Sport Coaches at the Physical and Health Department of the College were part of the trainees.

The Director of Works of COEM, Engr. Anthony Okakuro was ubiquitous before and during the training event and he ensured that the Indoor Sports Hall of COEM and other very important support were made available to the organizers (CSED Initiative) and the attendees.

The event was attended by Teachers from 17 government secondary schools and 2 government primary schools. As well as PHE Teachers from 9 private secondary schools and one private primary school. An additional 2 Teachers from the office of the Chief Inspector of Education (C.I.E.) attended. CSED Initiative has also conferred the title of volunteer CSED Liaison Officer on Pastor Evelyn Ofoghoro (Organising Secretary of the Delta State Sports Commission Oghara) for her wonderful contribution in supporting and mobilizing of the attendees for this training event. 

Dr Emoghene Obodo Blessing a participant from COEM said netball is a sport she would want to introduce into the area of specialization of future graduates of the Physical and Health Department of COEM.

The Chief Inspector of Education of Ethiope West LGA, Mrs Oghajafor Ochuko Patricia in her message through her representative, Okotie Igho Precious was full of praises to CSED Initiative and the Physical and Heath Department COEM for organizing this event and she promised that her office will endeavour to monitor the progress in the use of the equipment donated by CSED.

Apart from providing the 41 attendees with certificates, 35 of them were provided with free netball starter pack (netball balls, netball rims, finger-held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs and free green ceremonial T-shirts), as the shortfall in the equipment provided will be addressed within a period of two weeks.

Though netball is almost an unknown sport in Nigeria, this particular training event was oversubscribed, as could be seen in the number of attendees. Till date, 62 PHE Teachers have been trained, out of the 300 that CSED Initiative intends to train in 2022. The primary target of “PROJECT 2027” is to train and equip one thousand two hundred PHE Teachers and community youths that will bring netball to the attention of one million Nigerian students before the end of 2027.

Netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women. The girl-child in Nigeria should be supported and allowed to play this sport in a safe environment.