Coaches Hail Lagos Director Of SportsAppointment

Coaches of the Lagos State Sports Council (LSSC), have hailed the appointment of Adewunmi Ogunlana as the  new director, saying he will move sports to greater heights in the state.

The Coaches who spoke to newsmen over the weekend  in Lagos said his appointment would transform the council administratively and impact positively on sports development.

Head Coach, Edet Bassey, stated that Ogunlana had what it takes to steer the council to a greater height.

“He has the administrative capacity to move the council to an improved position better than what it was,’’ he said.

Bassey said that prior to his appointment, the technical personnel, including coaches and the secretarial staff were under a section called Sport Development Department which ought not to be.

Under the present administration, the technical personnel and secretaries no longer work under the same umbrella, explaining that the coaches now report directly to the director of sports.

Boxing Coach, Femi Adefemi, told newmen that changes had started occurring in the council but that there were still some areas that needed to be addressed.

“The new director of sports is on the right path and the activities of the council are glaring for everyone to see, this was not so before this administration.

“We still need some facilities which will help the athletes to train and excel,’’ he said.

Adefemi pleaded with LSSC to give urgent attention to athletes’ welfare by paying them stipends to motivate them.

He said the government was trying for them but needed to do more in their welfare as a way to check poaching by other states.

Lucky Izekor who coaches wrestlers said the council was going through transformation which would attract the best coaches to the state.

Izekor thanked the director for the athletes who had already begun camping for the National Sports Festival, slated for Port Harcourt, Rivers state in November.