NAN-S-2
Funding
By Victor Okoye
Nasarawa (Nasarawa State), May 6, 2017 (NAN) As the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) Games end on Saturday, some ex-internationals as well an official have urged more attention and funding for the Games.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 4,000 athletes took part in the 19th edition of the Games held at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa.
The ex-internationals spoke to NAN on the sidelines of the Games.
John Fashanu, Samson Siasia and a host of others monitored the football event with rapt attention, while other events witnessed spectators and representatives of national sports federations.
NAN also reports that scouts searching for talents in different sports were sighted at different events.
Fashanu, a sports ambassador, noted that sports had maintained the status of extra-curricular activity at the expense of entrepreneurs capable of producing professionals’ sportsmen and sportswomen in polytechnics.
“Many among previous participants that showed distinct qualities as players at NIPIOGA Games didn’t gain national prominence through their participation due to negligence by the relevant stakeholders.
“This trend must, therefore, be appraised and given the needed financial and technical support to encourage more productive and pragmatic participation of students in sports at different levels.
“The platform for detecting sport talents among polytechnic students should be well established through the NIPOGA,’’ he told NAN.
“With the mandate to create enabling opportunities for them to be properly trained and equipped with required skills to compete with peers and contemporaries elsewhere as obtains in well-coordinated climes.
“The handling of Polytechnic Games must also be redesigned to envisage reliable treat of emerging challenges; the Games should shift from fiesta to opportunities drive for participants to hit stardom through sports as an enterprise.’’
Siasia, a former senior national team coach, told NAN that he was excited to be associated with the 19th edition of NIPOGA, adding that more attention must be given to the Games by all relevant stakeholders.
According to the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion, NIPOGA was an opportunity for polytechnic students to showcase their talents as a lot of national and international stars have emanated from the Games.
“A lot of the stars you hear of today came through this medium. So, NIPOGA Games cannot be underestimated. Future champions can emerge from here.
“I am always very happy to attend this kind of event because I am always happy to be a part of anything to do with sports.
“My coming here is not just to watch but to try and motivate our young sportsmen and women to aspire for greatness.
“The energy, enthusiasm and spirit of sportsmanship showcased by participants clearly create a roadmap for proper study of sports as worthy enterprise to complement other professional trainings acquired by students that yearn for job security after graduation,’’ he said.
Tijani Babangida, also a former international, noted that the youthful ages of participants in the Games had the tendency of producing worthy talents capable of adding to the glory of Nigeria in sports locally, nationally and internationally.
“In previous eras, polytechnic sports produced raw talents that eventually became successful in sports globally.
“Therefore, a critical study of this reference is capable of creating opportunities for polytechnic students in this order.
“So, there is a serious need to give more attention and support to this course,’’ he said.
He also urged the Technical Committee for the Games, Rectors and other interested stakeholders to take proper review of the events with the target to improve on future competitions.
“Dossiers of participants that win medals or with brilliant displays must be compiled for record purposes and onward transmissions to independent governing bodies.
“This can lead to invitations of players for trials at other events, to expose them to real professionalism and proper encouragements.
“To complement this onerous task, proper media engagement must be fashioned to sharpen perception on NIPOGA Games by the general public and probably gain required funding to cushion the effects of poor funding of NIPOGA by government,’’ he said.
Amb. Aisha Audu-Emeje, the sole Promoter of NIPOGA Games and Chief Executive Officer, A3 Foundation, restated the importance of encouraging grassroots sports in the country.
She regretted that the needed attention was not channelled to NIPOGA unlike the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) games which had been given much attention over the years.
She therefore, appealed to both the federal and state governments, cooperate organisations and sports-loving Nigerians to contribute towards bringing the Games at par with that of NUGA.
| The Games which began on April 29 ended on Saturday with special guests, including Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, top government officials and ex-internationals among others. (NAN) VO/PDE ======= (Editing by Peter Ejiofor) |