NAN-S-2
Sponsorship
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) A karate instructor, Abiola Adebakin, on Saturday lamented the lack of sponsorship for tournaments to groom karatekers.
Adebakin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the continuous engagement of practitioners in tourneys would create opportunities for the country to produce global competitors.
He said that the sport had suffered neglect in spite of the persistent quest for government and brand sponsorship at all levels.
“We haven’t given up on our search for support but it becomes tiring when you are passionate about getting results but you are limited with resources.
“I am not sure a sport can be fully handled by just a particular individual without support in one form or the other,” Adebakin said.
He said that most sponsors did not find karate attractive enough to be sponsored because it did not seem lucrative for the players.
“People have put up complacent attitudes toward this game but that’s where our strength has been, to take the game to the world.
“It probably is a Nigerian factor since there are few people interested in sponsoring any other sport but football,’’ the instructor said.
He said that karate aided mental development as well as physical agility which were needed by proactive individuals. (NAN)
VOI/ORO/MVO
(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Mbadiwe Okwor)