By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos – The Vice-President, Federation of Nigeria Traditional Sports (FNTS), Bashir Agusto, on Thursday said the federation had planned to dislodge Senegal from the top rankings of the sport in two years.
Agusto made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2nd Lagos State Traditional Games at the Mobolaji Johnson Hall, Rowe Park, Yaba.
NAN reports that Lagos State is sponsoring the second edition of the Traditional Sports competition which includes Ayo, Abula, Langa and Kokowa for both junior and senior secondary schools.
The competitions have over 35 schools participating with over 500 students showcasing their skills at the event.
Speaking on the strategies mapped out by FNTS to make Traditional Games more popular in Nigeria, Agusto, formerly the Chairman of Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, said that the body aimed to gain grassroots support.
“What we are doing now is to get the grassroots support for the entire traditional games aside Lambe which is more popular, we want to discover new talents like what Lagos State is doing.
“We need to up our games to be at the level of the Senegalese athletes because it is only Senegal that is ahead of us in ranking.
“The Senegalese have edged over us because they have their government backing and giving a lot of attention through funding and creating enabling environment.
“In Senegal, there are lots of Traditional Sports Clubs like we have in Nigeria, but the only difference is that they are well funded, but in Nigeria, we lack direct sponsorships,” he said.
Augusto said the federation had been pushing toward getting sponsorships which had been yielding results, adding that there was a two-year plan to get the sports popular.
“We at the federation level are trying to bring all the traditional sports clubs under the supervision of the federation because we have had a sponsorships promise from the federal and states ministry of sports.
“Also, the tourism board is coming on board to assist the game to grow in Nigeria. We have a promise from Nigeria’s ambassador to France, Biola Ogunbiyi, for sponsorship too.
“With all these concerted efforts, in two years, according to plan, we will be at the level of Senegal if not ahead of them.
“In Nigeria, we also have a promise from the Union Bank of Nigeria for a sponsorship deal just like the Access Bank Lagos Marathon to promote the traditional games,” he said.
Agusto said that the strategy would be realised as the country had been delineated into six zones for easy monitoring of athletes.
“We are working together to have a national competition. We now have six zones in the country, and there we are having intensive trainings for the athletes.
“These trainings are ahead of the National Games and the National Youth Games, we hope to get the best athletes from there,” he said
