LOCKDOWN: How grassroots players engage in sport activities
By Saheed Afolabi
Despite the fact that lockdown has put all sport activities on hold as sporting facilities were forced to close down, the grassroots sport men in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area have strategised other ways of engaging themselves in sport activities to avoid being idle.
Some of the football players shared their experiences and how they keep sporting at home with Saheed Afolabi. Excerpts:
Gbenga Daniel who plays for Jogo C FC as a central defender told ECHONEWS: “I usually do my workout at home every day to keep fit in this lockdown by engaging myself in different types of exercises like jogging of the ball to keep fit, doing push-ups to straighten the nerves and sit-ups to keep the stomach in a flat shape and also make the waist to be flexible. It’s not that easy doing exercise at home because our other alternative which is the gym is also under lock because of the lockdown.”
Bright Star midfielder, Quadri Akintunde said: “I have been doing my personal training which consists of constant abdominal push-ups and ball work (jogging of the ball and playing it around). I have stopped doing my early morning jogging because of constant harassment from the Nigeria Police Force.”
Ysdron FC energetic defender, Ibrahim Adeleye said: “I wake up very early so as to embark on road jog at 5am so that I can return home early to avoid police men by sun set.
When I get back home, I continue with rigorous physical training by doing countless numbers of push-ups and I also make use of my skipping rope to gain balance when landing from the air and to also stretch out myself.
Wasiu Ibrahim, Goal Custodian of Ysdron FC has this to say: “I engaged myself in personal training since the Lockdown is on for now.
As a goalkeeper, I engage myself with the use of a skipping rope. I also do lots of ball works also with special focus on improving my diving skills, gripping and footwork. All these are done at my street since all sport facilities are locked.”
Golden Star FA skilled midfielder, Ibrahim Ajadi said: “By the ongoing stay at home order, I precisely train in my area at Orisunmibare Ifelodun Road, Ejigbo Lagos State. The lockdown has not been easy at all but by the special grace of Almighty Allah everything has been going on perfectly. I’m trying to avoid so many things in my area with people such as shaking hands as I also keep social distance with people. Since I cannot go to anywhere as a footballer, I’m doing some personal training to keep myself fit everyday. I go on roadwork (road jogging) and sit-up training to keep fit, but it has not been easy in the aspect of feeding after training sometimes.”
Ayoola Dasilva of Unstoppable Football Academy told ECHONEWS: “I wake up as early as 6:00am. I jog in my compound, do some rounds of pushups, abdominal, and step work to keep fit at home.”
Adeogun Michael, who plays for Unstoppable Football Academy also said: “I do pushups and sit up to keep fit every morning, and sometimes I do leg work, even ball jogging while I am indoor.”
Another talent from Unstoppable Football Academy named Adebayo Samuel said: “As early as 5:30, I wake up to do some jogging and proceed to little shuttle run. Also, I do some ball works in order to maximize my ball efficiency and finish up with little leg works and abdominal to keep fit.”
Amadu Kamara of Great Success said: “I’m keeping fit to make up to standard when we resume. As a player, it is also good to keep working even outside the lockdown, great success football club is my club thank you.”
Iwoba Emmanuel of Great Success Football Club also spoke about his workouts at home. He said: “As a player, this is how the lockdown is on me. The lockdown has made me to lose fitness because I can’t train as I used to train with my teammates. I do personal training at home but there is this fun when you train together with your teammates. I train at home during this lockdown but I miss playing football with some players that are fitter and stronger than I am. Playing with others keep me fitter than training alone at home without knowing my fitness level. So, this lockdown is going to drop some fitness in me but out of it all, life is more important because without life we can’t play football. When there is life I believe I will be better in the field to play football again. Thank you!”
Great Success Football Club player, Emmanuel Nwoko said: “Coping with this situation has not been easy based on the fact that no one is training again because of the lockdown. But, I have not allowed myself to go rusty irrespective of the lockdown and to ensure I am always fit. Every morning I engage in road walk, indoor training such as press up, sit up, skipping, etc. With all these, I’m fit at anytime no matter the lockdown.”
Great Success Goal Keeper, Oluwatosin Oyewole is not happy with the lockdown as he voiced out his feelings: “I am not happy about this lockdown but we have to give thanks to our God for the opportunity.
“This lockdown is a memory l will never forget in my life. I can’t wait to resume to training but on my own, I am working out very well so that I can be fit always.”
