Sports development: We need to step up our game -Prof Ken Anugweje

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Head of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission of Athletics Federation of Nigeria ( AFN), Prof. Ken Anugweje has expressed concern on the dwindling fortune of the country’s sports, especially football where other African nations have caught up with us.

Anugweje, a former Nigeria University Games (NUGA) President stated this in an exclusive interview with newstap.com.ng at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo shortly after the 2027 AFCON qualifier against Madagascar

According to the Director of Sports University of Port Harcourt , it’s unfortunate that while other countries are busy developing their sports, we have allowed the sector to deteriorate, with many sporting facilities abandoned and grassroots development neglected.

“The level of neglect the sports sector is facing in this country is quite alarming. Most of the stadias are in deplorable condition and our administrators are not paying serious attention to grassroots sports development which is the bedrock of sports development globally. We need to do more in the area of talent identification and grassroots sports development. This is an area we can’t be joking with.”

“When you go to countries like Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Senegal and even the little Island nation of Cape Verde, you’ll marvel at how they have transformed their sports sector. We need to step up our game.”

“You will notice that with our recent poor results, especially in football, countries who we normally beat by wide goal margins, are no longer afraid playing Nigeria. And we even struggle against them which is evidence of the deterioration the country’s football has suffered”, concludes the immediate past president of NUGA.