2nd November, 2012
Edet Ibanga, Head Coach of Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, has reiterated the team’s determination to win 18 out of the 21 gold medals at stake at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival.
Ibanga, who made the pledge during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the association was fully prepared for the fiesta.
“We have done a lot to actualise our objective of winning as many gold medals as possible; to this effect, we have organised a series of championships to enable our athletes to remain in shape.
“Our athletes have been exposed to regular competitions and they are training hard to win.
“We will do our best to get 15 to 18 gold medals, out of the 21 gold medals in the sport, “ he said.
Ibanga urged the government, individuals and corporate bodies to invest in traditional sports, in order to popularise them.
“If our people can give a proper attention to traditional sports in Nigeria through sponsorship of competitions, it will serve as a motivation for the athletes.
“Traditional sports are ours from generation to generation and we must revamp them and help to promote them to the intentional level, “ he said.
Ibanga identified the dearth of sponsors and poor media coverage as the major challenges militating against the promotion of traditional sports in the country.
NAN reports that traditional sports disciplines include: Dambe (traditional boxing), Kokowa (traditional wrestling), Langa, Ayo and Abula.