Wrestler Seeks Sponsorship For Indigenous Sports

Captain, Traditional Wrestling, Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, Miebi Bioko, has urged the incoming board of the Traditional Sports Federation of Nigeria to concentrate on sponsorship drive.

Bioko told newsmen in Lagos that the lack of sponsors had stalled the development of indigenous sports in the country.

According to him, traditional wrestling, popularly known as ‘Kokowa,‘ as well as other traditional sports, had a very long history, but have failed to grow due to the dearth of sponsors.

“The major preoccupation of all our authorities at the state and federal levels should be how to tackle the dearth of competitions, due to poor funding.

“They should work out modalities for attracting sponsorships from the public and private sectors; all we need at the moment is regular competitions.

“For instance, nothing is going on since the last National Sports Festival ended in Lagos. All of us are just roaming around, not having anything to do,“ he said.

Bioko said that the development would generate the much-needed publicity and awareness for the indigenous sports.

He added that government alone could not bring about the required transformation in traditional sports, as relying only on government funding would not guarantee regular competitions.

Bioko, however, advised the National Sports Commission to recognise traditional sports as a way to promoting cultural values and national unity.

Other traditional sports besides ‘Kokowa’ include: Dambe (traditional boxing), Langa, Ayo and Abula.