Association of Local Government Area Sports Coordinators has called for the revival of School Sports Festival in Kwara state for primary and junior secondary schools to enhance grassroots sports development.
The association made the call during a courtesy visit to the new Director of Sports, Coach Ibrahim Atanda, in his office at the Kwara State Sports Council on Thursday.
Chairman of the association, Dapo Ayilara (Ifelodun Local Government), congratulated Atanda on his appointment and prayed Almighty Allah to grant him wisdom and knowledge to pilot the affairs of the council.
He said the athletes, when discovered early, would rise to become world champions in their chosen sport.
Responding, Atanda commended the association for its support.
He thanked the state Governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for the opportunity given to him and promised to do all within his powers to move sports forward in the state.
He also commended the governor for the distribution of sports equipment to selected secondary schools in the state, a move he said would encourage grassroots sports development.
Atanda said that 65 per cent of participants at the Kwara State Sports Festival were students, pointing out that the importance of the local government area sports coordinators could not be overemphasised.
He charged them to be more pro-active in their respective areas and not rely on ready-made athletes pledging the council’s technical support to them.
Among the coordinators who were part of the visit done in compliance with Civid-19 protocols were those from Ilorin South, Ekiti, Asa and Ilorin West.
Others were from Oke-Ero, Ilorin West, Oyun, Irepodun, and Moro.
Also on Thursday, some members of the Kwara Baseball and Softball Association, led by Coach Jide Abidoye and selected members of Kwara United Football Supporters Club, led by the Chairman, Alhaji Imam Moshood, paid the Director a courtesy visit.(NAN)
