Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrad Philip Shaibu, will flag off the maiden edition of the Masvi Invitational Cycling Race on Saturday February 29the 2020
Frank Ilaboya the Honourable Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area disclosed this over the weekend in a parley with sports writers in Benin City. He said the amiable DG who is in charge of sports in the State was elated about sports development in Owan West particularly Cycling. ” The DG is quite impressed with the sports development in Owan West and has promised to perform the flag off ceremony of the Cycling tournament. In fact he has also extended his appreciation to the CEO of MASVI & Sons Nigeria Ltd, Mr Moses Ajayi, for “helping out to train the athletes for the National Sports Festival holding in Benin from March 21st to April 1st 2020.”
The MASVI Invitational Tournament is designed to empower the youth in Owan West as well as train Edo State Cyclists ahead of the National Sports Festival coming up in March.
Only last year, the former chairman of the Sports Writers Aasociation Of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos branch, sponsored the referees course in his dormain with over 30 participants drawn from the South South States and neigbouring Ondo state.
Over 70 Cyclists drawn from eight states of the federation are expected to take part in the one day tour of Owan West.” The male cyclists are to ride 100 kilometres while the female will do 80 kilometres.
The routes will take them From Ozalla, Uhonmora, Eme Ora and Avbiosi New Site.
From Avbiosi, the riders will hit Uzebba to Okagboro where they will make a detour to Okpuje and back to Uzebba before riding to Sobe, via Ifon for the final destination.
The Technical Director of the Nigeria Cycling Fedration (CFN ) Bashiru Mohammed praised the Executive Chairman of Owan West and MASVI for putting Cycling first in their agenda. “Kudos to the amiable chairman and Mr Ajayi for identifying with CFN at a time sponsors are hard to come by. My humble appeal to other states chairmen is that they should emulate Hon Ilaboya by sponsoring cycling in their various Local Government Areas. Cycling has over 48 medals in the National Sports festival 16 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze. “With Cycling, it is a win win situation for states who want to excel in any games that involves Cycling,” Mohammed stressed.
The Confederation of Africa Cycling (CAC) Member said cycling has great potentials to rank as one of Nigeria’s foremost sports in terms of standard, followership, popularity and contribution to the socio-economic development. These, according to him, have not been achieved due to lack of commitment by sponsors; poor support by Government; lack of corporate interest and involvement in the sport.”
In a related development, the leadership of Owan West has begun sensitization of the citizenry as the local govt prepares to host one of the biggest and glamorous sporting event in it’s history.
