Lagos State contingent to the recently concluded 20th National Sports Festival are full of praises to the Lagos State Government, management and staff of Lagos State Sports Commission for the welfare package put in place before and during the Edo 2020 Games.
Team Lagos were adjudged fifth best team at the festival after winning 126 medals of 32 gold, 39 silver and 56 bronze medals.
Speaking on behalf of his other colleagues during a ‘Thank You’ reception held for Team Lagos at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Wednesday, Captain of the team, Koleosho Hammed said that never in the outing of Team Lagos in recent sports festivals, as the welfare of athletes been so well delivered like what happened in Edo Games.
The Paralympic Games bound Hammed said that the athletes are very proud of the management, from the Executive Chairman, Sola Aiyepeku, the Director General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, board members and management staff for the attention given to the wellbeing of athletes, which he stated was superb.
“I want to thank the Lagos State Sports Commission for the welfare given to us at the Games. The allowances were paid on time. We did not lack anything and more importantly the encouragement given to us also gave us the spirit to fight on, even in the face of some unruly behaviours of some states contingents at the festival. The kits and welfare package was also Superb”
” When putting our outing in Edo and that of Abuja 2018 Games on a scale of comparison, I can say that we did well at the Edo 2020 because we were three gold medals short of what we got in Abuja even with few number of athletes to Edo Festival, while we were with full contingent to Abuja festival, ” the captain said.The Chairman of the Commission, Sola Aiyepeku commended the athletes for the fifth position, adding that they were worthy Ambassadors of Lagos State, despite some challenges during the build up to the Games,the performance of Team Lagos in Edo is worth celebrating”, while the Director General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar assured the athletes that the Commission would improve on its operations with what was learnt as lessons from the Edo 2020 to build and fortify the athletes ahead of the 21st National Sports Festival which Delta State will host next year.
Meanwhile, The Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar has commended the coaches and other officials for the performance of Team Lagos at the Edo 2020 Games.
Gafaar said at the post Festival meeting with Associations Secretaries, Coaches, Sports Coordinators and some Management Staff held on Monday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, that the Commission appreciated the Sportsmanship conduct of Team Lagos in Benin, adding that “We went, we saw and we put in our best.
“As the Co- Coordinator of Team Lagos for the National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020. I was highly impressed.”
He thanked everybody for the effort particularly the coaches for the training of the athletes.
He said: “The athletes did their best, but all the people working behind the scenes contributed a lot, although we were placed 5th on the Medals Table, but we put in our best.
“In about months to this time, another Sports Festival will be held, and we need to double our efforts in preparation.
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“Winning medals is not only for the glory of athletes but also for the coaches also”.
He commended the Coaches for putting in their best in grooming and training athletes put in their best to win medals for Lagos State.
He also commended all athletes who did not win medals for putting in their efforts too.
“We will continue to do our part with the support of Mr. Governor,” he said.
He promised that the award to be given to medalists of 20th National Sports Festival tagged Edo 2020 will be higher than that of 19th National Sports Festival hosted in Abuja in 2018.
The Director General however disclosed that henceforth, athletes who do not represent Lagos State would not be allowed to use all our facilities for training purposes.
Coach Janet Omorodion (Judo Coach) speaking on behalf of the Coaches requested that, the Lagos State Sports Commission should send coaches for refresher courses, training and seminars on the new trends in modern coaching as this will enhance productivity and optimum service delivery.
