THE Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) held a five-day workshop in Lagos to acquaint teachers and sports officers with the new style of training in school sports.The workshop had as theme, Talent Identification and Development in School Sports, while Prof. Clement Fasan of Lagos State University, Dr. Ademola Are as well as former Olympian and Registrar, National Institute for Sports, Gloria Obajimi, were speakers.In his remarks, NSSF President, Ibrahim Muhammad, challenged the participants to utilise their training to the benefit of their students.He said: 'Everybody is talking about grassroots development or going back to the grassroots and so we at NSSF must be prepared by putting some things together so that we will not be caught unawares.'Being the first contact for the students, we need to give them the basics and that is why this workshop becomes necessary for teachers and sports officers across the country at this point in time.'We will continue to put together various programmes that will keep the teachers able to impact positively on the students.'For Obajimi, discussing sports development without considering NSSF is an effort in futility: 'The future of Nigerian sports can never be bright if they are discussing grassroots development without fully involving NSSF,' she said.'I remember I was discovered at St Theresa's College in Ibadan in form two and that same year, I represented Nigeria in Ghana while Liberty Stadium became a melting point for most students in Ibadan at that time, when we had qualified coaches tutoring us. So it is imperative for NSSF to take the lead in reviving sports at the grassroots level.'According to the NSSF Secretary General, Olabisi Joseph, the workshop was meant to update the knowledge of sports officers and teachers, whose efforts to identify talents are key.In his presentation, Prof. Fasan urged NSSF to be active in its responsibilities, especially ensuring that facilities were provided in schools for students in sports.He frowned at the way schools are established without enough space for sports. However, he tasked the participants to always strive for knowledge to enable them teach their students well.
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