Federation To Take Golf To Grassroots

The Secretary, Golf Federation of Nigeria (NGF), Bola Adedeji, has said that the federation would focus on grassroots development of the sport this year.

Adedeji told newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos that the move was to get more people involved in the game early in life.

“The idea is to discover and nurture talents and dispel the impression that golf is an elitist sport,” he said.

Adedeji also said that the federation would encourage states and local government areas to invest in infrastructure to bring the sport closer to the people at the grassroots.

“The GFN is trying to take the sport to a greater height like never before in the country, especially now that golf is played at the Olympic Games.

“Our federation will be attending the London 2012 Olympic Games as observers and we hope to eventually attend the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as competitors.

“We hereby call on Nigerians to take active part in the sport that golf will soon become very popular in the country,” he said.

The secretary also said that GFN would collaborate with golf clubs in the country and use their coaches for the federation’s developmental programmes.

“Since we don’t have enough coaches in-house, we intend to involve coaches from golf clubs across the country to teach the rudiments of the game at the amateur level.

He also called on sponsors to partner with the federation to achieve its aim of developing the sports at the grassroots through competitions.

“The federation intends to continue from where it stopped in 2010 and sponsors are needed to execute our programmes to help the sport gain currency in the country.

“We hope to stage the postponed President’s Cup sometime this year and will need the support of sponsors to make the project a reality,” the secretary said.