SPORTS PERSONALITY: KWSG should build stadia in each local govt area – FA chair Offa

Lawal Adebisi Wasiu is the FA Chairman, Offa Football council in Kwara State. In this interview with MIKE ADEYEMI, he speaks on the need for the Kwara State Government to overhaul sports facilities in the state as well as on the urgent need to provide durable football pitches across the sixteen Local Government areas of the state so as to boost grassroots football development. Excerpts:

How has your post as Chairman Offa Football Council assisted in aiding grassroots football development of the area? 
Football Association has four cardinal points. Firstly to organise, to promote, to supervise and to control. These are the main core duties of the FA, which I have been doing in Offa even prior my position as football council Chairman. I have been staging competitions for different people, different categories in the area in the last three years. Initially, I started with the four team aside during the weekends. Later I changed it to a mock nations cup. Afterwards to Olagunju competition which has been on for the past 20 years now. I have been organising under age competitions in Offa since the inception till now. The school sports foundation is also on ground, though I’m not the originator of the foundation. The founder is prof Jamiu Olawoye. I have equally initiated football competitions for the primary, junior and secondary schools across the Local Government which has becomes an annual events now. We have established a league competition in Offa which is now called ‘Offa League’. The Olagunju annual competition took place in November/December which comprises of male and female. I also introduced mock Nation’s Cup to encourage the upcoming players at the grassroots. School sports foundation is another competition sponsored by Prof. Olawoye to encourage the students to discover their raw talents in which I’m the Chairman football matters. Youth sports federation of Nigeria, Offa local government chapter used to be encouraged by me to organise under aged competitions annually which is my jurisdiction. Also, we have been doing periodic seminars to updates the knowledge of our coaches or would-be coaches alongside the aged players. So these and more have been my participation as FA council boss in Offa.
What do you consider as the bane of grassroots sports developments in Kwara State?
The first problem is the religion. Followed by parental problem, school authority and lack of motivation. All these put together militate against even development of grassroots sports in Kwara State.
On the issue of religion, as you know, Kwara State is a cocoon of both Muslims and Christians. And each have a sacred time to pray, unlike in the olden days where you pray with your parents at home.
These days, so many religious activities have overshadowed kids participation in sports which indirectly hindering sports potency of such a child. Parents too in contemporary time used to engage their wards after the school activities with domestic duties which often time could debar full involvement of young ones in sports. You will notes that all these restrains are not in vogues when you take a look at the advanced countries. There, they give their wards free hand to take up a career in their chosen sports endeavours.
Are you of the opinion that sports facilities in Kwara State should be overhauled? 
Yes, absolutely. Let me take Kwara Stadium Complex as an example. When the edifice was put in place, we understand that the main pitch we are using today was meant for training purposes. The actual place that was planned for main bowl is there lying fallow. Had it been the man then was allowed to expand it, the facilities will be underused by now. It’s so bad that today, hardly would you see any football pitch across the 16 Local Governments of Kwara State, Offa inclusiveness.
The Offa stadium is nothing to write home about. So, there is no football pitch that is durable in any local government for usage. It’s as bad as that.
I want to urge the new Kwara State Government to put in place at least one good football pitch in each of the 16 Local Government of the state as this would go a long  way to promote grassroots football development.
Kwara FA elections has come and gone, what do you think should top the priority of new FA Chairman?
He should listen to stakeholders’ opinion and should choose the reasonable and popular ones.
To be a good leader, one must endeavour to be proactive and receptive to the dictates of all and sundry. Two, the new Kwara Football Association should take adequate seminars or lecture as a priority with renowned resource persons. Football globally has been digitalised and we must be ready to acquaint ourselves with its up to date changes. He should also put on board series of football competitions in the state so that the place of Kwara State in the ladder of soccer rating will not be relegated.