Ogunjimi charges NSC on improved squash facilities

Former professional squash player and member of Ex- Squash Pros in Diaspora, Segun Ogunjimi has charged the National Sports Commission to rehabilitate the dilapidated Squash Court of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos describing it’s neglect as unfortunate.

Speaking at the just concluded Ex- Squash Pros In Diaspora National Junior Championship held at the Squash Court of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere,Lagos, he decried the neglect of the racket game; saying that the Sports Commission must do something urgent to revitalize the sports in the country.

” I think this is the right time for the National Sports Commission to do the needful and rehabilitate the Squash Court of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

“It’s embarrassing that the Court where we use to play many tournaments in the past is now in total disrepair. Anytime I go there, I feel very sad. Recently, I learnt that they want to concession it, but I don’t know whether it will work or not but if the NSC can help put it back to use, that’ll will be great”, he stressed.
 
He also stated that the states need to do more in rehabilitating sports facilities in their states, lamenting that many public facilities are wasting.

” I started my squash in Ondo State and it was the support of the state that helped us then but as am talking to you now, that complex is in a very bad shape and the state government is not doing anything about it. Ondo is not alone in this neglect, other states are also suffering the same faith. It’s only few individuals that are coming together to see what they can do and this will not help sports development.

” I want to believe that if at the state level, they can maintain and build new facilities for us, the game will grow because it’s at the grassroots that you will discover players and from there, they will graduate to the national level because we all started like that.

He was however, happy that the chairperson of Niger State Squash Association is doing tremendous work in making sure that the state facilities are rehabilitated.

” Kudos must go to the chairperson of Niger State Squash Association for her efforts in rehabilitating squash facility in the state, She just gathered resources from her company, friends, family members and some individuals and support from the Diaspora to rehabilitate the squash complex and for the first time, we have players from Niger State participating in the Ex- Squash Pros tournament.

On his assessment of this year’s tournament which was the sixth in the series, he described it as a huge success and an improvement from previous editions in terms of attendance, organisation and the level of performance of the players.