Lagos Concludes Traditional Sports lnter-Club Championship

The maiden Traditional Sports lnter-Club Open Championship tagged “ASA SPORTS WEEK” was concluded over the weekend as Okafor Victor from Topfield School, Ayo Club and Agboola Morounfoluwa,who represented Woodland School Ayo Club, emerged as champions in the male and female categories.

The five-day indigenous games also featured seminar for coaches and technical officials at Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

In the LANGA (RUWA), Abiola Lawal team defeated Muibi team to be crowned as the winners in the event. Dogo Bunsa representing Lions Club knocked down Bello Usman from Bull club to be champion in the DAMBE (Traditional Boxing).
Alafini Umaru of Samaruwa Boys was crowned as the best fighter in KOKOWA 70-85KG after defeating Ali Saliu from (Iddo Warriors) by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, the male and female teams in ABULA, Great Boys and Sunshine club emerged as winners in their games. Speaking at the presentation of medals to the winners, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, said the traditional games had to spread to other communities and the state as well.

“We have many people playing the games all over the state, but they have not been recognised. So, with this maiden championship, clubs have been formed and the clubs will now set out and compete further”.
“Find a way to express yourself in sports and you can’t go wrong” Aiyepeku said.

Also, Director General, LSSC, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, disclosed that it was a deliberate attempt to continue with the THEMES agenda of the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s in which sports is one of the cardinal points.

“It’s an opportunity for our traditionalists to participate in indigenous sports and to showcase what they know and how to do best.It ranges from the children in schools up to the elderly people in the society”
Gafaar further stated that it showed culture was seriously embedded in education, adding that the state government would continue to take sports down to the grassroots.