LG tasked on sports development at grassroots

By Saliu Gbadamosi - 31.01.2008

Ike Uche looks to send a cross into Benin’s
penalty area as Nigeria search for an early
goal to settle their nerves. Photo: AFP

LOCAL government administrators in the country have been charged to spread dividends of democracy to the sports sector at the grassroots level in Nigeria with a view to developing sports as well as channelling the energy of Nigerian youths to productive use.

Technical Director of Bethel City Sports International, Mr Sunday Igbinsola, said this on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the forthcoming Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala Inter-Local Government Championship, tagged Governor’s Unity Cup, holding among the 33 local government councils in Oyo State. According to him, since certain percentage of the local governments’ allocation was to be spent on sports, the administrators had to give sports its own share of the dividends of democracy, adding that, “It is time for local government administrators to make sports at the grassroots level to feel the impact of democracy.”

Speaking on the Governor’s Unity Cup, which begins tomorrow, Igbinsola said the competition had the blessing of Governor Alao-Akala, adding that it was aimed not only as a sports fiesta but also to serve as an avenue for Oyo State to identify sports talents.