COVID-19: A BIG CHALLENGE TO GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL - GEORGE OUMA

|By Oluseyi Adedire|

Twitter/Instagram: @oyosportsnews | FB: Oyo Sports Update 

Director Green Sports Africa, George Ouma has charged Nigeria football administrators, coaches, parents and guidance to look beyond the damages and challenges of Coronavirus to the world especially in grassroots football.

George, a grassroots football advocate told OyoSportsNews www.osnews.com.ng at a seminar organized by Green Sports Africa in partnership with Mastercard Foundation for Oyo state grassroots coaches tagged 'African Warriors vs COVID-19 Oyo State Grassroot Football Connect 2021'. He listed challenges that rocked grassroots football during the pandemic.

"Coronavirus has really dealt with the world and Africa is not an exemption". He begins. "Compulsory lock down, activities were suspended, football competition, league matches were also suspended. In grassroots, coaches were asked to suspend training and this has affected a lot of activities."

George, a Kenyan grassroots football administrator argued that grassroots football is very key and necessary in any sports development. He told OyoSportsNews that grassroots football encourages mass participation, improves healthy lifestyle, helps in the development of young players, and indentification of talents.

Speaking at the seminar, Timi Tiamiyu Regional Director for West Africa, Green Sports Africa is of the opinion that grassroots football should be encouraged and well structured in Nigeria. He said kids and teenagers must be engaged in football activities and shun social vices. Timi also said aside the capacity building, Green Sports Africa will also be supporting grassroot football teams with kits.

Tiamiyu also used the avenue to sentisize participants on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines. He said no causality has been recorded in Nigeria since the start of the first and second phase of the vaccine. He also informed that COVID-19 booster dose has begun in Nigeria.

Oyo state football association secretary, Mr. Kehinde Ojelowo said grassroots football could have done better but noted that the challenges facing Nigeria economy and other sector had affected it growth. He said the state football association is doing and continue to her best to encourage grassroots football through under age competitions and awareness.

Speaking at the seminar, a participant and coach of Oyo state sports council football team, Musiliu Sanusi thanked the organizer. He highlighted challenges faced as a grassroots coach in Nigeria. He appealed to parents and guidance to encourage thier kids while charging government to provide enabling environment for sports development in Nigeria.