Ex States, national champions move to save sports in Kwara, asks commission for more inclusion

Ex sports men and women who have won laurels for Kwara, a state, north central Nigeria, on Thursday, asked the state government to give them opportunities to give back to the society.

The group of sports veterans under the aegis of Kwara State Sports Ambassadors, KSA, made this known during a presentation of certificate of registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to Coach Bola Mogaji, executive chairman, Kwara Sports Commission, KSC.

“For us, this is an achievement of a sort and it sets us apart from the pack,” said Suraj Bakinde, the chairman of KSA, during the presentation of the certificate to Mogaji.

Sports development in Kwara has enjoyed special fillip under the current administration under Governor Abdurahama Abdulrazak, who also doubles as chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF.

It is to his credit that he appointed Coach magaji, national badminton hero as pioneer henchmen of the sports commission which was formed after the state collapsed its sports ministry to cut out bureaucracy from sports administration and development.

KSA is made up of sports veterans who have won laurels for Kwara.

Mostly academics and officials of sports regulatory bodies in the country, KSA said that it hopes to lobby KSC to involve them in policy administration as it concerns sports in Kwara.

“A lot of our athletes needs mentoring. What other mentoring source can you have other than those who we have in our midst,” said the KSA chairman, while speaking to journalists in Ilorin, the state capital.

KSA currently has 400 registered members.

They include Elder Dele Oguntokun, retired footballer  and grade 1 FIFA referee; Jimoh Kehinde, chairman Badminton Umpire Association of Nigeria; Alhaja Olukemi Jimoh, ex Badminton player and champion; Coach Tajudeen Sulaiman, national Badminiton coach, and Monisola Makanjuola, Handball hero.

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