Sports
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.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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