The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, has stressed the need for adequate and proper planning to develop sports in the country.
Dauda stated this in Lagos, venue of the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival, tagged Eko 2012.
According to the HFN boss, with the current state of her sports, Nigeria needs between 10 to 15 years to make appreciable impact in the world of sports.
He said that the country’s dismal outing at the last Olympics in London was not a surprise to him.
Dauda said: “The Olympics requires a life time planning.
“We must be ready, prepare and prepare very well before we can expect something at that level.
“It’s the highest level of competition.
“What I mean here is that players must be picked from the grassroots and then groomed to an enviable standard.
“As you are coaching them, you are exposing them to international championships and with that, they are building confidence in themselves, before they can be taken to the Olympics.
“Taking players from the National Sports Festival straight to the Olympics is a waste of time.”
Dauda praised the introduction of underage grade National Sports Festival, saying such would change the tempo of sports in the country and encourage the discovery of talents at the grassroots.
The former Chairman of Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna stressed the need for professionals to come together to re-examine the present situation of sports in the country and proffer solutions, looking at the past experiences.
Dauda commended the Federal Government for the introduction of cash reward for the three best states in the NSF, saying it would boost the morale of the athletes.
The retired topmost handball referee said that he was impressed with the standard being exhibited by handball players in the ongoing Eko 2012.
He said: “I am quite impressed with what I have seen so far.
“We have been clamouring for the introduction of new players because this is supposed to be a grassroots affair where we will be able to pick players from the grassroots to groom them to the national and international levels.
“We don’t want recycling of athletes.
“One thing that gladdens my heart was that entirely they have changed.
“I am happy that our coaches have listened to our appeal that they should go back to the grassroots and pick players.
“Most of the players you are seeing here are new players which is a good omen for handball.”