Community sports coaches commend Dare, demand palliatives
By Saheed Afolabi
Sport stakeholders at the grassroots have called on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare to extend his philanthropic hand to the grassroots by giving them palliatives to cushion the effect of the lockdown.
They claimed that since palliatives were given to the athletes at the national level, same should be extended to those at the grassroots because it is the grassroots that groom known athletes.
They also noted that the grassroots have been neglected as all attention has been put on the sports at the federal level, pleading with the minister to give more support to the grassroots being the foundation of all great athletes.
Coach Christopher Ogar said the sports minister has really done well in terms of moving sport forward since he was appointed, saying there has been tremendous improvement on sports in the country, urging him to build the grassroots.
He said: “We know the minister has really done his best to move sports forward in the country and we have seen his achievements but he should also take a look at the grassroots, support them in his own little way by giving out palliatives to help cushion the effect of Covid-19 because the future of football in the nation is at the grassroots.”
Coach Emmanuel Edem of Eagles Assembly FC of Ejigbo said if palliatives are extended to the grassroots, they should be monitored to avoid corrupt people diverting them for personal use.
He said sports at the grassroots have been the most affected in terms of population and support.
A basketball coach, Shakirudeen Afunku noted that athletes at the grassroots train under stressful conditions, saying the palliatives would be a motivation for them to keep working hard.
“Such palliatives will serve as motivation to the athletes at the grassroots, and they will also have it at the back of their minds that government is supporting and motivating them to improve. This will encourage them at all times to do their best irrespective of the circumstances,” he said.
