LAGOS – Olanrewju Olowoopejo, the Sportmaster, Cifman College, on Monday at the ongoing 2014 Lagos State Sports Festival, “Ibile Games,’’ urged the provision of badminton courts in schools in the state.
Olowoopejo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that lack of space for interested badminton players to train in schools had affected the grassroots development and improvement of the sport.
According to the sportmaster, government and schools proprietors should make provision for badminton courts in schools as one of the conditions to establish schools in the state.
“Most schools don’t have space and facilities to train athletes in the sport so this has been a major challenge.
“Even at this ongoing Ibile Games, we have selected schools, definitely schools with badminton courts participating,” Olowoopejo said.
The sportsmaster, who also teaches biology, added that badminton event at the Games was progressive with impressive turnout.
Olowoopejo noted that the large turnout would allow badminton athletes to assess their performance and skill.
Fifteen female and 18 male secondary schools are participating in badminton event at the Games.
According to him, the Games were well-timed to further prepare the state’s athletes for the maiden South-West Secondary School Sports Festival, tagged “DAWN Games and the 19th National Sports Festival.
The maiden DAWN (Development Agenda for Western Nigeria) Games will hold from May 16 to May 24 in Lagos, while the sports festival will hold in Calabar Cross Rivers in November.
He added that the Ibile Games would assist the state sports council to discover upcoming athletes and prepare them for the national competitions.
The official commended the state government for organising championships like the Ibile Games and appealed to private organisations to support the government. (NAN)
