Sport Managers Association holds 2nd AGM in Calabar

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By Kelvin Obambon

Sports Managers Association (SMA) in the Cross River State Sports Commission has held its 2nd Annual General Meeting for the year 2020/2021 to appraise how well the association has been able to achieve its set goals.

The event which took place at the Canaan Table Tennis Club inside the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Thursday, had in attendance top officials from the State Sports Commission.

In a welcome address, the Chairman of SMA, Mrs Victoria Ugobo, recalled that the death of Mrs Margaret Ibiang Otu, whom she described as an articulate sports organizer and zonal sports coordinator, informed the formation of the association with the aim of promoting the welfare of members, who are staff of the State Sports Commission.

“These and more have strengthened the association, energizing it to strive even in the midst of adversities. The association seeks to promote and enforce unity amongst members, cordial working relationship between the association and the Sports Commission.

“Permit me to say that the Sports Managers Association (SMA) is composed of two interwoven departments which are the Elite Sports Department and Grassroot Department. These departments work in synergy for a more reliable result. Hence, the timely arrangement of this AGM as an annual event to bring members together, to appraise our activities, achievements, failures and to recommend ways for improvement.”, she said.

Giving the theme for this year’s AGM as ‘The Importance of Self Esteem in Sports Organization’, Mrs Ugobo added that the two-day event that began on Wednesday 27th January, 2021, featured an aerobic session and a handball tournament.

She explained that “The bases for selection of this team is to equip Sports Managers at any level with managerial qualities that will enhance efficient and effective performance of their duties in the local government area, state, national and international levels.”

She, therefore, expressed hope that the AGM would help focus attention on good job description, performance, good service delivery to athletes development and participation, as the state looks forward to the 20th National Sports Festival that would take place in Benin City, Edo State.

In a brief overview of the association’s progress for the year under review, the Secretary, Comrade Anthony Essien, said the new executives, led by Mrs Victoria Ugobo which took over office in July 2020, successfully registered the association with the State Ministry of Youth and Skills Acquisition and obtained certificate of registration; Successful production of the association’s bye-laws/constitution; organizing training workshop/seminars for members’ development; settlement of welfare matters, among others.

He, however, mentioned irregular payment of subvention, unconducive office accommodation, inadequate, provision of office furniture, lack of sponsors for competitions and low response to sponsorship drive as some of the challenges facing the association.

In view of the foregoing, the AGM therefore recommended timely payment of subvention to athletics and secretaries; provision of conducive working environment; implementation of policy that would leverage tax to encourage sports development, among others.

There were also goodwill messages from the Chairman, State Sports Commission, Mr Emmanuel Elom; Commissioner in-charge of sports development, Hon. Ekanem Ekpenyong and Director of Sports, Mr Etim Coco Bassey.