Some residents of Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for improved sports facilities, regular competitions, and greater investment in grassroots sports to boost youth development.
The residents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Gwagwalada.
They said that although many young people were interested in sporting activities, poor facilities, inadequate equipment, and limited opportunities continued to hinder their participation and development.
Mr Samuel Peter, a grassroots football coach, said many talented youths possessed the passion and ability to excel but lacked the facilities needed to realise their potential.
‘Many talented young players have the passion and ability to succeed, but poor facilities and inadequate equipment limit their development.’
Similarly, Mr Obaletin Jude, a grassroots footballer, said poor playing conditions and inadequate equipment had made it difficult for many young players to develop their skills.
‘I play football because I genuinely love the sport, but we train on rough pitches and sometimes we do not even have enough footballs. Transporting players to competitions is another major challenge,’ Jude said.
Also speaking, Mr Alake Destiny, another grassroots footballer, described sporting activities in his community as irregular due to poor infrastructure.
‘The biggest challenges we face are poor playing pitches and inadequate equipment. We need proper football fields, lighting for evening training, and quality training equipment,’ he said.
Mr Adejoh Israel, a resident, said football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and badminton remained popular among young people in Gwagwalada.
Israel said snooker had become one of the fastest-growing recreational activities because of the availability of several centres.
‘Many sports facilities were built years ago but have not been maintained. Damaged equipment increases the risk of injury, and there are not enough facilities to accommodate everyone who wants to play,’ he said.(NAN).