 |
| Fashola during the Kano honourary match |
Sports is a huge
business whose frontiers continue to expand daily, and its state in any nation
across the world today, is a reflection of the prosperity or lack of it that
exists in that nation. No wonder countries across the globe strife to harness
and perfect their skills in diverse sports to achieve world-class fame.
There is no gain
saying that the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN) a.k.a. BRF,
has taken bold steps to increase grassroots sports development in the state in
other to achieve a semblance of the former glory accrued to sports especially
the round leather game in the country. His flair for sports especially football
came to the fore front when he invited popular foreign players like Rio
Ferdinand and Emmanuel Adebayor to the state for a visit, which not only fired
up budding talents but also fulfilled the dream of the young to meet their
football icons personally.
With competitions
like the Ibile Games, Governor’s Cup; Adopt – A – Talents Sports Programme, the
State’s first international partnership conference on football tagged Soccerex
Conference and the hosting of the National Sports Festival (EKO 2012) among
others, it has laid hold to the claim that Governor Fashola is a sportsman at
heart.
His incessant
canvassing of adequate attention to be given to the nation’s soccer
administration saying its proper organization, management and regulation was
capable of unleashing limitless economic possibilities for the country cannot
be brushed aside. The Adopt – A – Talents Sports Programme (which is the future
of sports in the state as it helps reduce age forgery through early
participation) will go a long way to prepare talents for every area of sports,
as the programme is even expected to produce athletes for the 2014 National Sports
Festival. The Soccerex partnership would also provide the window of opportunity
for the State to profit from the technical experiences, meet new partners and
investors and unleash the Lagos Football Economy to the world.
The completion of
two new football stadia at Campos Square and Agege with an artificial turf with
a promise of similar facilities in Epe, Badagry and in Orile-Iganmu also,
drives home the fact that sports is a matter of optimum priority to the
governor, as it is glaring that there can be no sports and, indeed, football
development without the infrastructural facilities and the programmes that keep
the facilities in use. Thus, the organization of competitions at the grassroots
level that provide a platform for young talents to unfold is paramount.
With the
initiation of new competitions like MTN Street Soccer, repackaging of old ones
like the GT Bank sponsored Principals’ Cup and the introduction of a Lagos
Junior League for students who are in secondary schools only, the state has
created more opportunities for talent finding and development.
The successful
hosting of the 18th National Sports Festival (EKO 2012) will be a plus to an
already flourishing record of a sports friendly state. And not to forget the
COPA Lagos Beach Soccer 2012 in December will be the final icing on the cake
for sports in Lagos this year.
No wonder the
Independent Grassroots Sports Development Association (IGSDA) decided to honour
Governor Fashola, as a pillar of grassroots sports development in Nigeria as
well as being the Grand Patron of IGSDA. Giving tribute to who it’s due…
Kudos to Fashola a governor deserving.
Banji Boye
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
No comments:
Post a Comment