NAN-S-2
Para-Soccer
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, April 6, 2017 (NAN) Femi Afolayan, Head Coach, Lagos State Para-Soccer Association, on Thursday said the team’s absence in the ongoing National Para-Soccer League had demoralised his players.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second edition of the league began on Thursday in Abuja and will end on April 18.
The state had missed the maiden edition of the league in 2016 due to paucity of funds.
Afolayan told NAN that the development had discouraged the players whom, he noted, had devoted their time to training ahead of the league.
He said the league which was earlier scheduled to hold in Lagos was moved to Abuja due to some programmes lined up to mark “Lagos at 50’’.
“My players are demoralised and I understand their plight as a coach but there is nothing I can do to salvage the situation.
“The only thing I can do is to continue to encourage them and talk them out of their current state of mind.
“Even some of the players said they will travel on Thursday if the Lagos State Sports Council can provide a bus to convey them to Abuja to be part of the event.
“The federation is not ready to change the date for the league, likewise Lagos also has events, so, this resulted in why the competition was taken to Abuja,’’ he said.
Kano State defeated Katsina State by 2-0 to win the maiden edition of the league. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/MZA
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(Edited Edwin Nwachukwu/Maharazu Ahmed/Peter Ejiofor)