By Aisha Tamba
A youth association in Bakau calling itself”ANDA SUMLI TEFESBI” (work together to revive beach side) has announced it will organise a sports festival targeting youths and adults in the town, to discourage the sudden rise in the exodus of Bakau youths to Europe using the ‘backway’.
The event will take place at the Bakau fish landing site on the 31st December and will feature a variety of activities including, boat racing, wrestling and swimming.
According to champion wrestler and international weightlifter, Rambo, a resident of Bakau, the objective is to bring back sports to engage the youths of Bakau because the absence of activities have driven the young people to dream of getting away at all costs and by all means. “The festival is designed to bring back hope to the youths of Bakau through sports. Many people would be surprised to know that in the recent months a lot of our young and able-bodied people have left on canoes to Europe, mainly Spain using the back way. No one is certain what they are facing or are currently facing. We feel that we must do something to discourage this sometimes uncertain and dangerous adventure,” Rambo said.
He said the event is expected to attract the youths and elders both at the beach and the Community Centre where an exciting wrestling competition would be organised to be followed by a prize giving ceremony. “We have bought some trophies and prizes will be awarded to participants and we are calling on all well meaning Bakau residents, companies and institutions in Bakau to support the initiative by donating prizes or funds to make it successful’,’ he said.
