LAGOS – George Odiong, a former Head Coach, Lagos State Tennis Association, on Tuesday advised the National Sports Commission (NSC) to organise more competitions toward improving the standard of the sport.
Odiong told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Open Championships in Lagos.
He said that the sport was relatively going into extinction in the country and needed more attention.
“I know we have these talents out there but we are not making efforts to bring them out.
“The NSC should make an effort to organise such competitions, so, as to be able to identify such talents.
“We believe that these talents abound at the grassroots because there are no proper avenues to develop them.
“So, I implore local governments, where these talents reside to initiate some competitions too to fish them out.
“I believe that through sports, we can develop the youth and by engaging them actively in sport, we are keeping them off the streets,’’ he said.
He commended the CBN for developing the sport and urged other would-be sponsors to take a queue.
“The CBN, sponsors of the competition, has been a good example of development in the game.
“We need more competitions for these young ones, who have the talent to play the game, and to be able to compete with their foreign counterparts
“I only hope that the NSC will take it into consideration in helping to organise more competitions,’’ Odiong said. (NAN)
