Athletes, Parents Count Gains Of Holiday Camping

Though the summer holiday camping of the Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme ended last weekend, athletes, coaches and parents believe that the 10 days intensive training in camp has further brought the athletes closer to their dream in their various sports.

The athletes from 10 different sports were camped at the Nigerian Army Sports Centre, Myoung Barrack, Morocco, Somolu, Lagos State from 6-16 September.

They underwent series of trainings at University of Lagos Sports Centre, Yaba College of Technology, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, and Jalisco Sports Centre, Oshodi. Giwa Jimoh, a 15 years old table tennis player said the camping was quite interesting and challenging, adding that he was able to learn basic and modern things about the ping pong game from the coaches.

 “The camping was a good one for me and other athletes in camp. I want to thank our coaches for working round the clock to get the best out of us. During my stay in camp, I learned how discipline and endurance can bring the best out of an athlete,” he said. Kehinde Adeoye, a 17 years old basketball player, expressed gratitude to God for being part of the camping.

Adeoye said that the camping gave athletes from different sports to come together under one roof. Like Oliver Twist, Adeoye wants more camping from the Management Committee of the programme whenever schools are on holiday.

“The 10 days camping was a good experience for me. I really learned fast during the camping and I believe that what I learned I cannot forget it as this will help me in my career,” he said.

To Mrs. Olusola Onamade, whose son, Ayomipo, is a Karateka, the Lagos State government deserved a commendation with what was provided for the athletes in the camp. Mrs. Onamade, a former Karateka, who represented Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU at the NUGA and West Africa University Games, WAUG, during her school days, the athletes would gain a lot in the programme.

Karate coach, Olushina John, who has been in the sport in the last 26 years, said most of the athletes have exceptional qualities that will help them in Karate.

 “We are training these promising athletes rudiments of the sport and basic things for them to be mentally balance in order to enhance their strength to fight,” he said.

 Daniel Adekunle, who is assistant boxing coach to Joe Mensah, revealed that there are some outstanding young pugilists who he has identified.

“Boxers like Taiwo Abiodun in the 48kg, Rilwan Oladosu, who just came back from a bronze winning outing at a West Africa tournament recently, Mutiu Adebayo, a gold medal winner at the last sports festival are some of the boxers we have identified in the camp.

Because these athletes are combining sports with their studies make their future very bright,” said Adekunle, who is the Chairman of Lagos Boxing Club Coaches Association.