South West Athletics Association Targets New Falilat, Fasuba, Aliu, Others

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By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos


Members of South West Athletics Association have said that they have put in place a blueprint to produce more young athletes in the mode of Falilat Ogunkoya, Olusoji Fasuba and Deji Aliu amongst others.
In an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Chairman of Lagos State Athletics Association, Dr. Solomon Alao said they’re going to work in synergy with all the state governments and corporate organizations in the South West geopolitical zone of the country to ensure the region regain its leadership position in producing talented athletes for the country.
“ We’re all aware that in the past, South West  produced many  athletes for the country  who won laurels at international competitions  and that’s what we want to re- enact”, began Alao who also doubles as South/ West representative on the board of  Nigeria Athletics Federation.
“ It’s a fact that athletes usually come from the zones before they’re adopted at the national level  and that’s why  all the athletics associations  in the six states of the zone comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo  has decided to come together  to work out a blue print that will help us in grassroots development  of young athletes.
“You’re also aware that the South/ West is bigger than countries like Jamaica, Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago whose citizens are making waves in athletics and with proper planning we can surpass them”, he sounded with confidence.
In her remarks, ex- Olympian Chief Falilat Ogunkoya (MON) expressed confidence that the plan will achieve its set objectives noting that the zone is blessed with abundant talents waiting to be discovered and nurtured to stardom.
Also speaking at the event, former Team Nigeria Captain and African Long Jump record holder Yusuf Ali said they were encouraged by the noble plans of the present President of Athletics’ Federation of Nigeria Tonibot Okowa to move the sports forward positing that the zone will not fail in its plan of talent discovery.
He stated that although the first attempt on the noble idea was hampered because of the COVID- 19 Pandemic, there will be no going back this time around.
Scribe of the association who is also the Chairman of Oyo State Athletics Association Dr.  Isaac Ogada described it as a new beginning  assuring that all states in the zone  are in support of the programme just as he pointed out that there target will is schools and grassroots competitions where talents would be discovered.
Veteran Journalist Dare Esan  reminded Nigerians that one does not need to travel abroad  to become a champion; saying that if a home based Nigerian athletes could qualify for the finals of the 100 meters at the just concluded Tokyo Olympics, talents discovered in the country could as well win gold at the biggest sporting event in the world.

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