Sheu Lawal is the Chairman, Kwara State Cycling Association. In this interview with MIKE ADEYEMI, he speaks about the development of the sport in the state as well as how the state government can propel Cycling. Excerpts:
How would you describe the development of cycling in Kwara State?
When we compare the past with the present, one would say that Kwara Cycling have developed and evolved. Because, I realised about 10 years ago when the association was first incorporated, it wasn’t like what is onground now.
At then, the encouragement not there for the Cyclers, even logistics was not there. It breach this lapses, we the members has to come together to assist ourselves.
We could not afford to buy bicycles to our athletics, if not in the recent time that we had few bicycles. But despite all these said lacunas, Kwara Cyclist are the best in Nigeria.
I want to appreciate the Kwara State Governor for his passion for cyclist and indeed sports. What we are witnessing in Kwara is an attestation to the fact that there is hope for cycling in Kwara. We have never had it like this before.
During the previous government, we did all within our ambits to sought for the administration’s assistance, but to no avail. As you can see today, cyclers from other states were unground for maiden Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahaman tournament.
Would you say cycling is alien in Kwara State?
No. Cycling is not a strange sports in Nigeria. As parents, the best gift you buy for your kids is bicycle. I remembered when I was very young, I used to contributes money and hired a bicycle for a whole day during festive periods.
So we have been used to it in the state. The only difference is that the sports have grown to professional level. Traditionally, our hunters and farmers moved via bicycles.
What I think we need is to encourage people on the need to embrace cycling. The bane to even cycling participation today is that our roads networks are jam-packed d with cars which makes it difficult for people to indulge in cycling.
We must encourage people at the grassroots and do lots of sensitization about the benefit of the game. With this, I think the awareness of cycling as a sport will be promoted.
How many tournament in the recent time has Kwara cycling featured?
Most of the competitions we participated in were limited owing to lack of funds. Though we had participated in Lagos and Abuja and we have gotten medals, but not to the expected peak we had wanted because of the said constrain.
Each time there was any competition, cyclist came to me and asked how to go about getting it prosecuted because there was not Sponsorship. Our cycling wanted an avenue to showcase their talents, so they did all within their ambit to self-sponsored themselves in major tourney.
How would you rate Kwara cyclers in terms of performance with other states?
In terms of talent, Kwara Cyclers are far better than their peers in other state. I want to tell you that we excel and did well than other cyclers outside Kwara State.
It is unfortunate that we lost our cyclers to other states as a result of demotivation from the government. Most cyclers in Nigeria today are from Kwara State, but we could not mention them.
So, I think it is high time the Kwara State Government start to do something about our cyclers so that we wouldn’t lose them to other state. The only way we can stop the brain drain of our cyclers to motivate them and provided the needed incentives to our cyclist.
Aside paucity of funds, what other bane militating against Kwara cyclings?
Like I said, whatever you want to do in life, you can never overrule the place of finance because others problem revolves round finance.
One major problem aside finance that is related is lack of individual or groups and cooperate bodies to sponsor cycling in the state. Often time we go round the state telling them the importance of such sponsoring, but to no avail.
I want to use this medium to appeal to companies in Kwara State to at least look at the inherent benefits in sponsoring sports competitions. It is part of their social responsibility to the society. But it is unfortunate that our companies have not taken in these merits.
How do you want the Kwara State Government to aid Kwara Cycling Association?
As you can see, everything requires connection. I want to thank God that we have a sport loving Governor now. The Governor is very accessible, and you don’t need to lobby before he respond to your problem. He is very accessible.
And with the type of people we have at Kwara Cycling Association- the Olojoku and so many dignitaries, we will be able to reach out to the Governor.
What are your visions for Kwara Cycling?
With the way and manner youths are embracing cycling, the future of the game is very bright. We have medical Doctors, Lawyers and other professionals among us in Kwara Cycling.
Kwara Cycling Association has evolved and in soonest time, the full glory of the game will be seen across the state.
