By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District has said he is sponsoring the National Sports Support Fund Bill at the National Assembly aimed at assisting ex-sportsmen and women who have represented the country in various sports at any level. Speaking yesterday when he received leaders of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kaduna state chapter on courtesy visit at his house, Sen. Sani expressed sadness that sportsmen and women who made the country proud and have retired are left to suff er.
He said, the bill he is working on when passed into law will assist such individuals in recognition of their contributions to the country. “I am working on a bill that will lead to the establishment of a fund to support sportsmen and women who made the country proud. It will be in the form of a pension scheme for ex-internationals. It is called the National Sports Support Fund Bill. It will involve two things; it will encourage grassroots sport and serve as an offi ce to support Nigerian players when their services are no longer needed and encouraged young ones to go into sports. “Sports is supposed to be a funded institutions to champion the cause of unity and togetherness.
Sport has been neglected and untapped institutions which can address social vices in the society. Each time Nigeria is playing a match you see the happiness on the minds of people devoid of religion, tribe or race. Our sportsmen and women who have sacrifi ced their youthfulness and bring honours have not been appreciated and their honour reciprocated. “Many who played for the Super Eagles today can hardly feed their families. Many people outside the country know Nigeria because of our sports but Sports misfortune in Nigeria is self-infl icted for refusing to provide enough funding for sports to thrive. “In Ghana, I went to Ghana Football Association to ask for Edward Ansah and I was given his phone number, address and a guide to take me to his house.
I met him and he his doing well but Nigeria players are neglected. “Nigeria can win gold medals if sportsmen and women are given recognition and adequate funding. Grassroots sports is gradually dieing. It is unfortunate that each time we go for Olympics we come back with bronze medals. We have many people who are good sportsmen and women that are not given the opportunity to grow. Our young people have completely lost interest in local sports. People are more bordered about the English League. Th e decay and neglect in sport sector is a refl ection of our failure. We must invest in sport to achieve results.”
