Sports
‘I Enjoy Watching W/Cup Matches At Viewing Centres’
In recognition of football as a binding force between class and creed, Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Babatunde Bank-Anthony, says he enjoys watching the World Cup matches at viewing centres to mix with fans.
Bank-Anthony, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen, said that he had yet to watch any of the ongoing FIFA World Cup matches at home.
Tidesports source reports that the sports-loving Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode originally ordered for the provision of six public viewing centres across Lagos States, but he has since made provisions for others after some calls.
The centres are located at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island; Abesan playground, Alimosho, Naval Yard playground, Ajegunle, Bishop Aggrey Youth Centre, Mushin and Epe Recreation Centre.
However, Ambode gave the directive for more in his response to the call for additional World Cup Viewing Centres in some parts of the state namely Ikorodu and Badagry.
This gesture now gives Lagosians living in those areas of the state to enjoy and watch live football action of the ongoing Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
Football lovers have been trooping in large numbers to the six viewing centres provided by the state government with the average attendance at the Teslim Balogun Stadium put at over 2,000.
Six similar viewing centres across the state have also been attracting large number of viewers since the kick-off of the World Cup on June 14.
Bank-Anthony, however, believes that more than having the viewing centres, watching the Russia 2018 matches at those centres would serve as encouragement to the people.
“The sports-loving people of Lagos State have been trooping in their numbers in appreciation of the state government’s gesture, for me, I can’t remember watching any of those matches in my house.
“I always watch the live telecast at viewing centres. I have been to Epe, Mushin, Ajegunle and it is very interesting watching with people of diverse opinions.
“Some Lagosians seeing me at the centres say that they did not expect to have someone like me there, but that is football, it is a unifying factor for all.
“The government has many ways of identifying with the people and because football is more than anything compared, I have been enjoying watching the matches with fans,’’ he said.
Bank-Anthony said that the World Cup public viewing centres were adequately insured which is one of the best practices for any public place.
“Everything at the viewing centres is legal, they are FIFA licensed and we have partnerships with others concerning this.
“The place was given adequate insurance cover to have the public confidence that not just watching there, they are safe; this we did besides the adequate security measures put in place.
“Gov. Ambode himself conceived the idea of the viewing centers; he only directed us to execute it. The way the government operates in Lagos State is quite different, we are pacesetters.
“We have other viewing centres across the state that we erected in partnerships with private sector such as Eko Atlantic and others,’’ he said.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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