The Technical Director Lagos State Sports Commission Uthman Ola Okunnu has applauded the introduction of the National Youth Games.
Okunnu who spoke at the Lekan Salami stadium, Ibadan venue of the Southwest National Youth Games zonal elimination noted that the games is living up to expectations.
He explained that the fruit of the games was clearly evident when some of the athletes of the games were grouped together as the thirty eight state at the recent National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Ogun state where then won gold medals in events such as weightlifting,athletic and table tennis among others.
Okunnu observed that the games which were a developmental one which began ten to fifteen years ago have really produced talent for different states and the nation at large noting that some states have not however made use of the full advantage of having the games as they still engage in the poaching of athletes from Lagos state.
“ Lagos state is reputed for discovery and development of talent but what happens at the end of the day is that you find out that some state engage in poaching athletes from Lagos which they used against us “ he said.
“ In some competition, you see athletes which we asked to wait a bit for them to mature into full blown athletes being used against us by other states and that when we have a situation where Lagos is playing against Lagos” Okunnu added “ This kind of situation is uncalled for because other states are supposed to be fishing for talent instead of poaching” Okunnu lamented.
He however gave kudos to Oyo state Sports Council positing that “ yesterday, at the basketball court, I saw some young players playing and what this means is that very soon, the players will represent Oyo state in basketball”
