By Adegbolbola Alawode
A passionate appeal has gone out to the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Barrister Abdulrahman Gimba, to support squash racket in the country.
Worried about the dwindling fortunes of the game in recent times, squash players in Lagos State have called on Gimba to help revive the sport by organising regular competitions to keep them busy.
One of the squash players, Omoruyi Daniel, said that the lull being experienced in the game is worrisome hence the need for the authority to do something urgently to revive it.
Daniel noted that the game of squash, which is the favourite sport of President Umaru Yar’Adua and erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo is suffering despite the fact that there are opportunities for the authorities to develop it.
He said Nigeria Squash Racket Federation is not doing enough to develop the game, alleging that funds meant for the development of the sport may have been diverted to personal use.
According to the 23-year old squash player, “it is a pity that squash is going down by the day. We train regularly, unfortunately, there is no championship to exercise our God-given talent.”
Daniel lamented that the facilities across the country, especially the Abuja National Stadium are rotting away without playing host to any squash tournament.
“The world class facilities at the squash courts of the Abuja National Stadium are not put to use. The stadium is a magnificent edifice to behold, but it is being under-utilised. The authorities concerned should make good use of the facilities before they are destroyed by the elements,” Daniel advised.
To Gbenga Arogundade, another squash player, the government has not done much in terms of developmental programmes. He advised the NSC to go back to the grassroots by organising squash championships in both primary and secondary schools across the federation.
He opined that the NSC is just contented with the country’s achievements in other sports hence the nonchalance of the authorities to the development of the sport.
His words: “Out of all the sports in the country, the NSC is only concerned about football and athletics, while other sports are neglected. It is worrisome that squash is at the receiving end while other sports survive.”
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