NYG : Team Lagos success story in Asaba, tip of the iceberg – Okunnu
By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Asaba
The Technical Director of the Lagos State Sports Commission, (LSSC), Uthman Ola Okunnu, on Wednesday, stated that Team Lagos’ outstanding performance at the ongoing 9th National Youth Games in Asaba, the Delta State capital, is just the tip of the iceberg.
He stated that the state’s athletes will not only surpass last year’s record but will retain its top position on the medal table.
“So far it has been great. When compared with the last edition, we have surpassed last year’s final result and this is just Day 6. Right now , we have 31 gold, 16 silver and 13 bronze medals and still counting, The sky is the limit”, he stressed
Okunnu, a seasoned sports administrator emphasized that the flawless and impeccable preparations by the LSSC coupled with the undivided support from the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the backbone of the team’s near perfect outings so far in the championship.
“It’s as a result of flawless and impeccable preparations, the Governor of the State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, created an Olympic size swimming pool, which helped them perfect their skills. And everyone at the Commission, worked as a team to make sure we make full use of the provisions at our disposal,” he said.
He was full of praise for the state’s aquatics team, which won 19 gold medals; adding that this mind-blowing feat could not have been achieved without the support of the Governor.
According to him, LSSC will not neglect athletes who made the state proud but will nurture and groom them, turning them into athletes who will bring laurels to Nigeria.
The Technical Director, thanked the Governor of the state for the Olympic size swimming pool which he created and other sporting facilities in the state, noting that it helped the team to perfect their skills ahead of the games.
He further explained that these up-to-date sporting facilities will be used by the Lagos State Government to host the 10th National Youth Games once they are given the green light.
Okunu added that hosting the 10th National Youth Games will be a piece of the iceberg for the Commission and that they will raise the bar and host the best National Youth Games ever.
“What we have is the record and the experience, you can’t take that away from us, the records of 2012 are there, in 2012 we hosted the best Sports Festival till date, it’s just going to be a piece of the iceberg for us.”
“The facilities are there, from the National Stadium, to the Teslim Balogun Stadium to other indoor and outdoor courts, the National Youth Games involves about 8,000 athletes and we have hosted 15,000 athletes.
“Lagos State boasts of good road network seamless accommodation and other logistics ate in place. So, we’ re getting set and if its given to us, we will not only deliver, but raise the bar,” he concluded.
