Odunlami Tasks Youths On Traditional Sports

The Secretary of Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, Segun Odunlami, has advised youths to take to traditional sports, to enhance its development.

Odunlami told newsmen in Lagos that more traditional sporting events like Langa, Abula and Dambe had been lined up for the second quarter to discover talents in the state.

He said that apart from the just concluded 1st Lagos State Traditional Wrestling (KOKOWA) Championship, additional efforts would be made to discover more talents in traditional sports.

The secretary said that 80 wrestlers featured in the KOKOWA championship in the 55kg, 65kg, 75kg, 85kg and 100 kg categories.

Odunlami commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for his support toward the development of sports generally, including traditional sports.

“‘Those youths who have not been participating in sports should go to their local government areas and get involved in one traditional sport or the other.

“‘For instance, we have wrestlers clubs only in some areas like Ajegunle, Ketu, Ibafo, Ikorodu and we want more participants,” the secretary said.

Odunlami said that gold, silver and bronze medals won by the athletes in each category would attract N20, 000, N15, 000 and N10, 000 respectively.

“‘We do not have any challenge now because the state has done much for us by releasing money for grassroots sports development.

“‘No sport is neglected and this is encouraging to our youths, who have been training for long without getting competitions to assess their strength.”

He said the talents discovered in various competitions would be called to camp ahead of the state and National Sports Festivals.

Coach Edet Ibanga of the State Traditional Sports expressed surprise at the new crop of talents emerging from traditional sports.

“The standard is high now and we have been able to discover new talents at the grassroots, who are qualified to represent the state,” he said.

A traditional wrestling coach with the Lagos State, Femi Akinsanya,  applauded the efforts of the state government, and urged wealthy individuals to emulate Fashola’s good gesture.

Akinsanya recalled that Lagos State won all the prizes in Langa, Dambe and Kokowa in the traditional sporting championship in Ogun State a fortnight ago.

“We want more competitions to build our athletes’ level of confidence, ahead of the sports festival scheduled for November  27 to December 9 in Lagos.