Posted by By Tony Amadi - The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
It has been identified that for good sports development largely driven by private-sector initiative, incentives like tax rebate could encourage companies and well-meaning individuals to readily partner with government
It has been identified that for good sports development largely driven by private-sector initiative, incentives like tax rebate could encourage companies and well-meaning individuals to readily partner with government.
The chairman of the Rivers State Coaches Association, Mr. Opakiriba Harry, dropped this hint in Port Harcourt while chatting with a group of Journalists during the coaches' week.
Mr. Harry, who is also the National female volleyball coach, argued that since these companies and wealthy individuals pay taxes to government, it might become a lot difficult for them to readily throw funds into sports development. He however believes that a slight tax concession to willing hands will enable them to stay on, as well as encourage others to emulate them.
He stressed the need for equity in sports administration in the state, pointing out that coaches of the various games other than football receive salaries from the state government whereas, the coaches of Sharks and Dolphin Football clubs sit down and negotiate their terms of engagement and are given a free hand to scout for players and recruit them on negotiated terms.
He therefore faulted government for not giving equal attention to other Athletes and their coaches as a way of encouraging an all-round development of sports in the state.
Nevertheless, Mr. Harry claims that coaches in the employ of the state government have a good and smooth relationship with the state administration.
He disclosed that the Rivers coaches Association week was for the coaches in the state to come together and appraise their performance and map out strategies to move forward.
The week, he said, featured visitations, seminars, meetings, friendly matches and other events, the climax of which was a gala night, adding that at the end of the week a position paper (communiqué) was forwarded to the state government recommending the way forward for better sporting in the state, and expressing the coaches feelings.