BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE LAGOS
Team Lagos Athletes are ready to do the State proud as the Lagos hosts the South West Zonal Eliminations ahead of the 20th National Sports Festival holding in March in BENIN, EDO STATE.
250 Male and Female will represent Lagos, competing in nine Team Sports at the qualifying Tournament staring on Wednesday at different venues across the state.
For the first time in 47 years, the center of excellence is hosting the National Sports Festival South West Zonal qualifiers for team events.
Chairman, Lagos state sports commission, SOLA AIYEPEKU said the state is fully ready to host a memorable competition and ensure that the Athletes qualify for all the nine Sports at the Zonal qualifiers.
AIYEPEKU was speaking during a scheduled visit by the Management of the Sports Commission to hostels of Team Lagos Athletes and officials at the FAITH PLAZA APARTMENT in Bariga on Monday night.
The visit to the Camp was to see how the Athletes are faring, motivate the Team and give Athletes, Coaches and Officials all necessary support to excel at the Competition.
“We know the usual things about motivation and we’ve done all that we can do and push the responsibility back to the Athletes. If they don’t go pass this stage, they don’t get to participate in the main event.
“We need everybody to get to the main event and that’s why we are to see how they are doing in camp. I just had a meal here myself, I ate semovita and that’s the same the athletes are having and I’m sure they enjoyed it. Everything is going on well at the camp, there’s light, there’s water and we are ready to have a good time at the Zonal Elimination” Aiyepeku said.
Assuring the Team of the support and commitment of the Lagos State Government, AIYEPEKU said the Athletes are well motivated while urging them to give their best.
He added “These Athletes having training for about a month and a half. They took a short break during the Christmas and now they are back in Camp. I believe they are self-motivated and we expect the best from them.
“You saw the enthusiasm in the athletes, they are happy and for us coming here this night eating together, there is something that relationship with human being does. It motivates, boost self-esteem and boost confidence.
We know that there will be little issues but over the last five or six days, we’ve been solving this problems bit by bit and you can see the efforts we are putting in and the athletes can see it. It’s time for them to put in their best and ensure that they qualify”
Teams from five other states; Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo will battle with Team Lagos for slots in sports such as Football, Basketball, Cricket, Handball, Hockey, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Rugby and Abula.
Agege Stadium, Teslim Balogun Stadium, National Stadium Surulere, Elegbata Sports Complex, Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval and Rowe Park Sports Centre are the venues hosting the South West Zonal Eliminations.
