By Samuel Ahmadu and Kuti Dare, Ilorin on October 5, 2016

Ademola Are, Director of Grassroots Sports Development, Ministry of Youths and Sports, has accused sports federations and state governments of not doing enough to develop sports in the country.

Are, who spoke to sports journalists at the recently concluded National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin, tasked sport federations and state governments on developmental programmes.

He said finance was not always the major cause of under-performance at international tournaments but bad preparations, adding that it was high time we went back to school sports.

According to him, “Sports is not magic, for you to erase one second in 100 metres, it might take two to three years; so, it is a gradual process.

“If the federations are doing what they ought to do, we won't be where we are today because most federations do not have developmental programmes.

“All they wait for is the All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games, National Sports Festival and National Youth Games. They do not have programmes to keep their athletes busy throughout the year.

“And the state governments are also not helping matters as there is hardly a state in Nigeria that we have state sports festival. So, how do athletes improve with this?

“We must ensure that we go back to school sports and states must do their own work because the Federal Government cannot be everywhere.

“Let the states do their bit, local governments should also do theirs, then, the Federal Government will be the harvester of all these talents to bring them together for further grooming.

“We can only advise because a school established without sports facilities should not be approved by the state government. So, state governments are also guilty of killing sports in the country.“

•Photo shows Ademola Are.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 5, 2016

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