Prince Adebanji Atewogboye, the Senior Special Adviser on grassroots sports development to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanowo-Olu recently met with members of Oshodi/Isolo Football Coaches Association as parts of his efforts to revamp grassroots sports development in the state.
The meeting which was held at the popular Jalisco stadium in the heart of Oshodi was attended by stakeholders, including the chairman and the secretary of the association.
Atewogboye, during the meeting, urged the coaches to be synergize with other coaches of ther sports to breathe new life into grassroots sports as process to discovering abound hidden talents across the state.
He pointed out that sporting activities and engagement is an important tools of curbing vices among the youths and taking off the streets to eradicate reoccurrence menace in the state neighborhoods.
Atewogboye added that governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration is all out to ensure the youths in Lagos live responsibly and have their dreams fulfilled.
Adekunle Adesoji, the secretary of the association, in his remarks said that the association is in dire need secretariat while emphasizing that the Oshodi/Isolo Football Coaches Association is the largest in Lagos State.
Kensoj, as Adesoji is popularly called among coaches in the state maintained that the association requires, secretariat big enough for statewide congress. He also pointed out that an annual Lagos State Sports Festival would be a bedrock foundation for talent discovery in the state.
While calling on the SSA to call for periodical meetings with various grassroots sports associations, Kensoj added that they are all willing to work with Atewogboye to record key achievements in his tenure.
Responding to Kensoj, the SAA assured the coaches that they will be given all the necessary supports needed for sports development in Lagos State. He also asked them list out their demands and promised to work on all of them. He further gave assurance on the renovation of the popular sandy football pitch – Jalisco Stadium.
Also speaking at the meeting, one of the veteran grassroots coaches present, Rasheed Sulaiman, described the SSA, Atewogboye, as selfless personality who has been assisting youths in sports development even before his appointment.
“Adebanji Adeoye Atewogboye, aka Sikbanj, now the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Grassroots Sports Development has always been supporting grassroots sports, owns a team and has always been committed to human development in and around Oshodi. He serves humanity selflessly,” Sulaiman said.
