NAN-S-2
Coach
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, May 9, 2017 (NAN) Taiwo Olabanji, a coach in the Lagos State Weightlifting Association (LSWA), has said that the ongoing Delta Sports Festival was a relief to athletes’ quest for competition.
Olabanji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the festival was an opportunity for athletes from the state to showcase their skills after the 2012 National Sports Festival.
“Among lots of issues before the Delta Government, it has identified organising the sports festival which involves large number of youths in the state.
“I am impressed by this step because the state’s athletes have to improve a step ahead of others who have yet to enjoy this benefit from their states.
“Delta-born athletes are happy and have travelled to their state to participate in the festival which will help them to prepare for other future national competitions,’’ he said.
He urged other state governments who had yet to organise such competitions to emulate Delta as a way to make-up for the biennial National Sports Festival (NSF) staged last in 2012 by the Lagos State Government.
According to him, it is recommendable to regularly expose athletes to such competitions to help them to improve on their skills as well as avoid being competition rusty.
“Other states ought to hold such competition to keep sports and youths active so that they will not feel the burden of the situation of our NSF which is still hanging,’’ he added.
The coach said that athletes at the festival were participating in weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis, gymnastics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, squash, boxing, karate, baseball and softball.
NAN reports that the 6th Delta Sports Festival which began on Monday will end on May 12 at the Ozoro Polytechnic Stadium with athletes from the 25 local government areas. (NAN)
MIL/IKU/PDE
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(Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Peter Ejiofor)