Former table tennis player and coach Engore Toun has called on the government to increase investment in grassroots sports development, particularly through the provision of sports facilities for young athletes.

Speaking in an interview on the second day of the maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria (AFFAN), Toun expressed concern over the shortage of accessible sports facilities and declining corporate sponsorship for sports.

Toun said sports sponsorship and government support were better during her active years, when companies regularly sponsored competitions and athletes had more opportunities to train, travel and compete.

She mentioned companies such as Cadbury, Lever Brothers and some banks as examples of organisations that supported sports in the past. She said this level of support is no longer common.

“In those days, there was more seriousness in sponsorship of sports than now. A lot of companies sponsored competitions, but these days, we don’t have that anymore,” she said.

Toun also expressed concern about the lack of sports facilities for young people, particularly in Lagos. She said many children and teenagers have no proper sports centres or training grounds where they can spend their time and develop their talents.

According to her, building more sports halls and arenas would give young people the chance to take part in sports instead of spending their time on the streets.

She believes some of these young athletes could go on to represent Nigeria and win medals at major competitions if they are given the right support.

“To me, what we want from the government is to be serious with sports and with junior development… what I think the government should do is for the government to engage these children more in sports,” she said.

Toun also looked back on her time as an athlete, recalling how competitors in her generation travelled more, attended training camps and took part in more competitions. She added that winning medals was a major motivation for athletes at the time.

Speaking about the reunion with former athletes, she described it as a lovely experience, especially as some of them had not seen each other for 30 or 40 years.

“We were all acting like babies, all acting as if we are still in the game and just enjoying ourselves. It’s nice, just seeing ourselves again. We are alive, we are good, even though all of us are walking about with injuries from representing the country.

But it’s just good to see. Some of us have not seen each other for 40 years, 30 years, and we are now coming together and seeing each other. It’s beautiful,” she said.

She said seeing familiar faces again brought back memories of their days in sports. Despite the injuries many of them sustained while representing the country, she was happy they could come together again and enjoy the moment.

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Former tennis player Morolake Olateru Olagbegi Kassim has outlined the Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria’s (AFFAN) commitment to improving the welfare of female athletes, protecting them from abuse and empowering the next generation of sportswomen.

Kassim, who spoke at the association’s gathering for their maiden AGM in Lagos, said AFFAN was established to ensure that female athletes receive the benefits and support that many former competitors did not enjoy during their sporting careers.

“Our objective is to give life, all the benefits the old female players didn’t get to have. We’re trying to have all the new girls, all the female athletes, have it,” she said.

She explained that the association’s advocacy also focuses on protecting female athletes from verbal and sexual abuse, particularly within sporting environments where some individuals in positions of authority exploit their influence.

Kassim, who identified herself as a criminologist, said she was particularly concerned about reports of coaches making sexual advances towards female athletes and using promises of team selection to manipulate them.

“With me being a criminologist, I want to be able to protect all the females. A lot of them have gone through verbal abuse and sexual abuse,” she said.

She added that AFFAN was committed to educating young female athletes on sexual health, building their self-esteem and helping them understand that they could achieve success and live fulfilling lives through sports without resorting to exploitative relationships.

“We’re trying to give them self-esteem. We’re doing a lot of things to help them, to empower them in all forms of shape and form,” Kassim added.

Beyond its advocacy and empowerment programmes, she described the gathering as an opportunity for former female athletes to reconnect after several years apart.

Kassim said the reunion would allow members who had previously interacted through online platforms to meet physically, recognise one another and strengthen the bonds within the association.

She expressed excitement about meeting former colleagues and other sports personalities she had known by name but had never encountered in person.

For her, the gathering represented more than a reunion; it was an opportunity to strengthen relationships among former athletes while advancing the association’s broader mission of improving the experiences of women in Nigerian sports.

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National Institute for Sports (NIS) director general and chief executive officer, Comrade Philip Shaibu has showered accolades on Rosemary Nwankwo and Gift Bright for winning gold medals on Sunday at the Youth Summer Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Sports247 reports that Shaibu described the double feat in the Games 100m events – Nwankwo for females, Bright for males – as phenomenal and another reflection of Nigeria’s growing global presence in sports.

A press statement from the director general’s office in Abuja, signed by Callistus Ebare, disclosed in part: “Congratulating the athletes on their historic achievements, Shaibu said their success was a product of hard work, dedication and determination.

“He (then) urged them to remain focused, reminding them that the world is open to them as they pursue greater heights in their careers.

“In his characteristic show of appreciation, the former Edo State deputy governor extended his congratulations beyond the athletes to their coaches, whom he commended for their technical input and commitment.

“He also applauded the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for providing an enabling environment that allowed the athletes to excel while proudly representing the country (and) commended the National Sports Commission for its role in ensuring effective coordination.”

Sports247 reports further that Shaibu also commended the NSC’s top brass for allowing various stakeholders discharge their responsibilities without hindrance, hence the success of Nigeria’s athletes as evidence of what purposeful leadership can deliver.

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