By Kelvin Ololo
The Cross River State Deaf Sports Association (CRSDSA) has suspended its planned protest over the government’s delayed support for the team’s participation in the 6th National Deaf Football Championship scheduled for November 18 to 29, 2025, in Jos, Plateau State.
The decision came after a decisive engagement with the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Sports, Mr. Lawrence Eta, who reassured the athletes of the governor’s commitment to ensuring their trip.
In a written statement conveyed through an interpreter, the Association’s Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Inyang Bassey, told CrossRiverWatch that this year’s outing would mark the team’s first ever appearance at the national championship.
He noted that despite writing to multiple government offices including the Chairman of the Disability Commission, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Social Welfare, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, the Association had received no response prior to the planned protest.
He said: “We have written letters, visited offices, made courtesy visits, and waited respectfully. But our request for support to travel for the National Deaf Football Championship in Jos has suffered continuous delays.”
Bassey appealed to Governor Otu to prioritize inclusivity in sports leadership, stressing that para-sports in the state require administrators who understand the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
According to the Senior Special Adviser, the team is expected to play before members of the State Sports Commission on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the U.J. Esuene Stadium. The assessment match will determine their readiness before they depart to represent Cross River State in Jos.