Accra, Sept 8, GNA - The National Sports College is crying for overhaul of its dilapidated facilities to enable the institution carry out its objective of nurturing sports men and women and administrators. Mr Dominic Asabia, Director of the Winneba-based Sports Collage that has produced several national heroes says the institution cannot function without facilities, the core need for sports development. "Sports is nothing without facilities and it is for this reason that we are soliciting for external support to enable us to upgrade the College."

The Director who was briefing a delegation of media personnel who visited the College to have first hand knowledge of the facilities were confronted with a long list of dilapidated facilities and obsolete equipment meant for training.

The College was established in 1984 with the aim of serving as the pivot for sports and has eight tennis courts, a football field, a miserable boxing ring and a basketball court that requires facelift to serve their purpose.

Mr Asabia said the College also lacks behind in the organisation of regular courses required to build the human resource capacity for sports administrators, coaches and the sporting media in their quest to construct a solid foundation for sports development. The Director said his outfit will soon roll out a permanent course in Sports Journalism aimed at providing the media with the requisite skills in the common quest of promoting sports in the country. "We are planning to use the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra as the center for the course once we fashion out all the modalities." Mr. Asabia later told the GNA Sports that the tennis courts are currently struggling with drainage system but could receive a facelift once the College's budget for 2010 is approved. "We have budgeted to solve the drainage, lighting and fence system by 2010."

He appealed to the corporate world to come to the aid of the College "since government alone cannot shoulder the huge cost involved in the provision of the needed facilities to make it achieve its aim of training sports men and women." 08 Sept. 09