‘Traditional Sports Can Engage Youth’

The Head Coach of the Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, Edet Ibanga,  has  called for the development of grassroots sports programmes, to rid the streets of idle youths. Ibanga told newsmen that traditional sports was a medium through which the country’s youths could imbibe the numerous cultural norms of evoking good behaviour.

The coach urged the governors of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, to strive at the enhancement of traditional sports in their domains.

“The development of the traditional sports will help to take our youths from the streets and preserve some of our sacred cultural values. “It is a pity that traditional sports were not considered relevant in some local governments in Lagos and are not known at all in many other states in Nigeria,’’ the coach said.

The coach also urged corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to support traditional sports by partnering with the association to execute its programmes. He urged the media to help publicise its activities and popularise the sport in the nooks and crannies of the country.

“Media organisations must do their job by enlightening the public about the sports, to ensure their popularity like other sports,” Ibanga said. He said that the country was doing well in Kokawa (traditional wrestling), adding that Nigeria was the current West Africa’s champion in the sport.