By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
A total of 40 skaters drawn from Lagos and Edo states will participate in the maiden Motor Sports Race way skating championship slated for April 1, at the company’s track facility in Evbuobanosa near Benin City. Edo State.
The tournament which has received the endorsement of Roller Sports Federation of Nigeria and is being organised by the company in collaboration with Big Heart Skating Club will see the athletes compete for honours in speed skating (full marathon) and aggressive skating (Ramping), both 42.6km races.
Chairman technical committee of Rollers Sports Federation of Nigeria, Kingsley Kedro Nkisa stated shortly after a successful trials at the National Stadium l,Surulere, Lagos to select the best 20 skaters that will represent the state at the event said the competition will enable the athletes have a feel of the modern racing facility pur in place by the company in Edo State as well as prepare them for major international competitions.
According to him, the partnership with the motor racing company is a welcome development as it will help greatly in developing the sports just as he commended the Federation’s President Comrade Joseph Eva for his efforts at moving the game forward even without financial support from any quarter.
“We’re happy with the championship as it will impact positively on the athletes. The coming of (MRE Track) will give our athletes the desired exposure and that was why we organised trials to pick the best for the Easter challenge.We also hope that other corporate organisations will emulate them and partner with us as lack of adequate sponsorship is retarding the development of the game’,he said.
Brand Manager of the company said the need to keep youths out of crime encouraged his company to plan the tournament with a promise that the next edition will involve more states.
“Our company is mindful of the fact that the country is blessed with talented youths who because of poverty and poor background cannot achieve their aims with their talents and that is why we are organising the championship to make them exhibit those talents.
Winner of the one-day tournament will go home with N,50.000 while the first and second runners-up will get N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.
There will also be trophies for the first five winners.
