Coach Canvasses Grassroots Attention For Athletics

A Lagos State Athletic Coach,

            Dennis Joseph, has appealed to the Government, National Sports Commission (NSC) and Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to focus more attention on grassroots development.

Joseph told newsmen in Lagos that upcoming athletes to be identified from grassroots competitions would later represent the country at international competitions.

“I would prefer the Sports Ministry or those in charge or Federal Government to pay attention to the grassroots because they are the ones to make the country proud tomorrow.

“Yohan Blake was taken to the  Olympics 2008, as a spectator, they took him there to sit down and watch.

“But this year, we all saw what Yohan Blake did, he threatened even the Olympic champion in person of Usain Bolt to the core.

“So that tells us that in the next Olympics, we do not have to debate on who will win, if somebody came all the way to threaten even Bolt to that level.

“So it is definitely sure that in the next Olympics, Bolt might not be there, but the Jamaicans are still sure of defending that Gold three times consecutively.

“Here in Nigeria, we only wait for the ready-made, we do not think on how do we, what do we do to get these things done to the extent.

“As it is now, countries like Australia, Canada have already begun their training for Brazil 2016. For Nigeria, such file is not yet opened, so those are the issues.

“We need more conditions like secondary school games to come forth. Initially, during the time of MKO Abiola, we did have athletics for the junior called MKO Abiola U-20,’’ he said.

He noted that the senior athletes had already hit the limelight, stressing that those to take over from them should also be provided fair opportunity.

“By the time you want to take a junior athlete to Nigeria Mobil they will tell you this athlete has not gone here to compete, has not gone there to compete.

“Whereas those competitions are no longer there for them. So, I feel there should be more attention because the senior ones have already gotten to the limelight, they can hang on there.

“Am not saying they should not be encouraged, they need to be encouraged the more because presently they are the ones carrying the flag for the country, they need to be encouraged as well.

“But let us look at those that will take over from them. We should start bringing people and by the time we have reliable legs, It will enable them work hard.

“While these ones too will think of overtaking them,’’ he said.

He, then, urged that the right people should be appointed into prominent positions in sports.