Lagos won’t feature superstars at Calabar 2014 – Tandoh

The Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Council, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, has revealed that the state would present developing athletes at the next edition of the National Sports Festival, Calabar 2014.
Tandoh said: “While other states have started running from pillar to post to secure the services of superstar athletes to compete in their colours at the 2014 Games, Lagos would concentrate on improving its young athletes for greater performances in the future.
“We did it before at the 2006 Gateway Games in Abeokuta when the Festival was opened for superstars to compete.
“We featured our young athletes who later became the pride of the country in international competitions.
“We are going to do the same thing in Calabar.”
The former Secretary of the Local Organising Committee for the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival noted that a large percentage of the athletes that would be taken to the Calabar 2014 Festival would be selected from the School Sports.
Tandoh added: “The original concept of the National Sports Festival is developmental; Lagos won’t deviate from this as it has been beneficial when properly done.
“The Festival is not about winning at all costs, but helping Nigeria to develop youthful athletes for future use.
“If the Festival features superstar athletes, who are bound to overshadow the upcoming athletes, which platform would the country use to discover great athletes in a competitive atmosphere?
“The top athletes should have been reserved to show their skills at international competitions where the country needs them most.
“No matter the situation, Lagos will remain focused.”
The Director of Sports added that the Lagos Sports Council will continue to bridge the gap between it and the schools in the state.
He said: “We have achieved a lot with the public schools, but the gap is still wide with the private schools.
“We have started the move to bridge the gap.
“The Ibile Games’ starting from this year is going to be school based, as the council has been sending coaches to schools to help train the athletes.
“We are building a databank of athletes that would be articulated at the Ibile Games.
“We have the software that would capture all these.
“The focus of sports in Lagos is developmental and it would remain so.”