By Akpan David, Calabar
Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, Sikiru Akande has called for the state-owned Rovers Football Club to be rebranded.
He identified sports as a veritable tool for fostering harmony amongst the youth, which on the long run, reduces youth restiveness and minimizes security challenges in the society.
Akande harped on the need to tap from the pool of indigenous football talents within the state to fortify and strengthen the team.
The Commissioner who spoke on imperatives not security for the team when the management of the team visited him in his office on Diamond Hill Calabar, said the state FC should be made to engage the youths in he state to dissuade them from crimes.
“We need to bring back our youths into sports, to do this, you need rebranding; anyone coming to watch your match should be able to afford your jersey,” he said.
He promised to provide full police cover and provide escort for the team whenever they were traveling for their away and home matches to ensure better security of the team on the road.
Akande assured that he will take care of the welfare cost of the security team that would always cover the team.
He said the police will be fully in charge of security during home games of the team, urging the management of the team to give them an advance notice of their matches.
“I am here at home with you, I will give you the professional and moral supports you need; for your travelling outside the state, if you let us know we will give you a police escort team.
“I will personally take care of the welfare allowance of the officers that will be traveling with the team.
“For the period that we will be here, be rest assured that we will give Cross River an enabling environment by providing round the clock security so that some of you who want to do things for the state to grow will have the space to do them,” the CP said.
He identified sports as a veritable tool for fostering harmony amongst the youth, which on the long run, reduces youth restiveness and minimizes security challenges in the society.
Akande harped on the need to tap from the pool of indigenous football talents within the state to fortify and rebrand the team.
“We need to bring back our youths into sports, to do this, you need rebranding; anyone coming to watch your match should be able to afford your jersey,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Rovers Football Club, Mr Ejen Ebam, commended the CP for the security in the state and the deployment of policemen to the UJ Esuene Stadium during Rovers’ week two match against Dynamite Force FC.
Ebam however said according to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) rules about 30 police officers were required in a match venue to ensure the security of the home and away teams.
