Zone-1 Coordinator, Nelson Charge D Ss

The Zone-1 coordinator of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Peter Nelson has called on Director of Sports in the Zone which comprises, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States on the need to focus more on grassroot sports development.

Nelson, a former Nigeria International Basketball player gave the advise Monday at the quarterly meeting of the Directors of Sports in the zone held at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

The meeting which has in attendance General Manager Sports from Ondo (Tosin Ogunmoyela) and Ekiti (Kunle Falodun) while Prince Akin Ladigbolu represented Lagos State discused the zonal elimination of the 2008 16th National Sports Festival slated for Akure, Ondo State in November this year.

Six sports will feature at the zonal elimination in Akure, they include Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Tenis and Abula.

The directors also resolved to back Nigeria bids for the 2014 Commonwealth Games by linking the bidding committee headed by former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) in the committee's effort to sensitize the general populace about the importance of why the people should support the government in the hosting of the Commonwealth Games which will be the first by any African country come 2014.

The Zone has also mapped out plan for the staging of the 2nd Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Athletic Championship for under 18 boys and girls, the championship according to the zone's coordinator is one among the numerous programme of the zone aimed at discovering athletes early.

The director of sports have resolved to work together in making the zone one of the best in the country.