Lagos State is currently working on plans to replace the artificial turf at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, and Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island with natural grasses.
The state is also migrating from engagement of part-time of coaches to employment qualified coaches on fulltime job in its drive to encourage excellence in sporting activities especially at the grassroots and schools.
Kweku Adebayo Tandoh, chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, told journalists on Tuesday that the plan regrass the stadia was to make the facilities meet the required standard to host the Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches and in line with the commitment of the state to providing world-class sporting facilities.
Tandoh also He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has given approval for the comprehensive renovation of Campos Mini Stadium in Lagos Island, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere; Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba; Isheri Football Field/Swimming Pool, and Ijede Mini Stadium, Ikorodu.
According to him, the state has also begun the process to complete the upgrade of the Agege Stadium with the covering of the remaining seats at the facility.
Contracts, he said had also been awarded for transformation of Onikan Stadium to an all-covered ultra-modern international stadium with FIFA certified artificial turf and multipurpose arena for entertainment concerts with capacity to accommodate 10,000 people, with works already ongoing while the Maracana Stadium in Ajegunle would also be reconstructed.
And as part of measures to bring the 2018 World Cup tournament to be hosted in Russia later this year, the chairman said the state government has approved the establishment of three viewing centres across the in Mushin, Alimosho and Ajegunle.
“The centres will be in place for the duration of world cup and will serve as venues where people in those areas can watch world cup matches free of charge,” Tandoh said.
He said approval had also been given for the employment of full time coaches as well as contract coaches, while training grants have also been paid for a total of 300 state athletes in individual sports, combat sports, team sports, racket sports, traditional sports, para sports and deaf sports.
He added that as a result of the deliberate policies put in place, many of the athletes produced at sport tournaments organised in the State eventually ended up representing the country at international tournaments, just as he assured that government would continue to put efforts in place to promote sports at the grassroots.
JOSHUA BASSEY
