…Poor funding affects grassroots sports
Hassan Abdulsalam
Former African Coach of the Year, Kadiri Ikhana has
Claimed that he is surprised that Rivers United won in South Africa.
Rivers United defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in the first leg of their second preliminary round tie of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Ikhana disclosed that poor funding affects the development and hunting for grassroots talents.
Ikhana revealed this at the Inauguration of Ogun State Executive Members of Youth Sports Federations Of Nigeria (YSON) in Abeokuta.
Ikhana managed Nigeria’s Enyimba and other clubs in the country, winning the CAF Champions League in 2003 with the People’s Elephant.
He was appointed manager of the Nigerian women’s national team in April 2012.
According to him, “I’m not surprised with the Nigerian clubs on the continent, a country that couldn’t provide the best club on the continent with the predicament of the country with COVID19 everything is not organized even NFF did not help matters, in a situation that other countries are preparing to make their country football move forward but here we are waiting for the ministry of sports and CAF cannot want for any country to release their fixtures, I said it In port Harcourt that you shouldn’t expect much from the team is not possible something you didn’t farm you can’t crop.
“We have been sleeping since all these days and we just wake up in a day to play CAF competition there are some teams that have been preparing for it, you don’t expect much, I’m surprised that Rivers United won in South Africa and I believe that they are affected by COVID19 more than Nigeria,” he said
Ikhana said further that youths should be taking out of the streets and equip them with sports, adding that philanthropists should support grassroots sports.
According to him, “People forget about Grassroots but they focused on transferring players U18 abroad, without money take off won’t come, I’m just appealing to sports-loving people of Ogun State to support YSFON, they should help on taking youths from the streets.
“But at the same time if we don’t have financial power it will be very difficult for YFSON to implement any program. If everybody comes for the development of sports the sports will grow in the country, people should come and support” he said
Meanwhile, the new chairman of Ogun YSFON, Alhaji Lawal Adeoye Waheed pleaded that Former sports professionals should come to the assistance of young sports personal.
“Let us come together to plow back to the society what, we have gained from the game of football to benefit our youth who are yearning for support and assistance for growth and sports development,” he said
However, YSFON Secretary-General, Patrick Okpavuehe appreciate the people of Ogun State and claimed that Ogun has produced talents
“We appreciate the government and the people of Ogun state for supporting grassroots which make the state produced talents,” he said.
