Sports
LASG To Introduce Traditional Sports In Schools
Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, Mrs Abiola Ogunbiyi, last Tuesday said the state would introduce traditional sports in schools in the state to improve students’ mental alertness.
Ogunbiyi, who became chairman of the association five months ago, told Tidesports source in Lagos that the association was currently working on creating awareness on the benefits of embracing the sports.
She said athletes who would be deployed to schools to train students and pupils were equally undergoing training after which the sports would be introduced to schools.
According to her, the sports should be introduced to children in schools because each of the sports like Abula, Ayo, Langa, Kokowa and Dambe had some intellectual and health benefits which children must tap from.
“We are planning to introduce these traditional sports to both public and private schools within the state.
“This will groom the children to improve their mental alertness, speed, stamina and strength, while the spirit of team building will equally be improved on.
“Ayo plays the part in improving mental alertness; Kokowa which is local wrestling will improve children speed and strength while Abula known as volleyball strengthens team building.
“All these will play out in their academics when they begin to develop themselves on the sports as soon as they are introduced to them.
“We are considering leaving Ayo out for children below seven years of age because of the fear of mistakingly swallowing the seeds.
“We know most parents and adults do not know the benefits of embracing the sports, so, we are presently creating awareness, going to schools, churches, social gatherings and all to do this,” she said.
Ogunbiyi urged Lagos citizens to embrace the sports as they were indigenous sports and they revolve round the culture of the state, adding that each of the sports had worked positively for the ancestors.
She said the association was working tirelessly to compliment the state government’s effort at making the state a sports hub for Africa.
“We have to go through the process of creating awareness to talent hunt, then to nurturing the talents to ensure that the sports take their pride of place in the state.
“Lagos residents must embrace and grow these sports because they suit our nature and culture.
“These sports are well embraced in the francophone countries and they are money spinners for them, we should be able to do the same here,” she said.
Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder, Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria.
“We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far-away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks.
“We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.”
Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.