Traditional Sports: Coach Blames Woes On Irregular Competitions

The Lagos State Abula Coach, Muritala Babalola, has expressed regrets that the nation’s abundant talents in traditional sports were wasting due to lack of competitions.

Babalola told newsmen in Lagos that the irregular competitions had grossly affected the growth of the game in the country.

According to him, the game comprising Kokawa (wrestling), Dambe (boxing), Langa, Ayo and Abula, failed to grow in the country because government has failed to show interest.

Babalola said that government’s lack of interest in the game had resulted in corporate bodies and spirited individuals to develop apathy to sponsor the game.

He noted that having talents alone would not improve the sport, and stressed the need for regular competitions to sustain its popularity and growth.

“The lack of opportunities for players to play on a regular basis is one of the biggest challenges facing the growth of traditional sports in the country.

“In order to improve the game in the country, we will need to organise competitions on a regular basis for the players as well as the fans,” he said.

He then urged the three tiers of government to show interest in the development of the game in the country, saying that government’s apathy to the game was its greatest problem.

“If government shows little interest, the game will grow through sponsorship and players will have better opportunities to play regularly and improve their skills for international competitions.

“Funding from the private sector to hold competitions will go a long way at providing players with the required prospects to play, thereby improving their skills,’’ he said.

The coach, however, expressed optimism in the future of the game in the country, saying that it had overtime gained national recognition and acceptance by the people.