SPORTS PERSONALITY: School curriculum on sporting activities needs to be overhauled – Oladimeji Thompson 

Prince Oladimeji Thompson is the Chairman, Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin. In this interview with MIKE ADEYEMI, he speaks on how to improve grassroots sports in Kwara State as well as the need to review school curriculum to meet up with modernity in sports.
How did you come into football?
It has been long. Right from my school days, I played football. But, I never took it as a profession, because I’m an engineer. At the same time I’m into serious business, I’m an industrialist.
However, my passion for football stands and miraculously or by coincidence, the governor then, distinguish Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki called and appointed me that time because he has belief in me that I can take the club to the next level, owing to the way I have been running my business.
Things have been working as he believe that I could do same for Kwara United, and that year, precisely in 2007, Kwara United was in relegation.
By his grace, with the support of all stakes holders we worked together and were able to take Kwara United back to premier league same year.
I want to say it wasn’t an easy task, but it was a collective responsibility.
What has been your achievement since you took over the leadership of Kwara United?
Yes, that is exactly what I have just said now that in 2007, I was able to take Kwara United to the premier league. The following year, we were in the fourth position in the league table, and we were able to qualify for continental ticket. That is where we got before we were asked to go.
And since then, I have just been monitoring activities of Kwara United because I have passion for it. It’s just like you having a baby as you cannot abandon your baby.
So, thereafter, the club went into relegation again and I was called upon again to come and rescue Kwara United.
And by God’s grace, like the way it happened the first time, with God on our sides, with the mutuality of the stakeholders – we were able to move Kwara United again not that year, but the second year, back to the premier league.
Last year, we played premier league, but it was an inconclusive league. No promotion, no relegation. Now we are playing abridge league which is a very serious league, and I’m sure we are not doing too bad now.
What has been the biggest challenge before Kwara United?
Well, the challenges are just like the success, so far earlier I have been able to take Kwara United to premier league two times and I was able to get continental ticket at that time.
The challenges we are facing like we have faced in the past is just because, the country now as it is, even most of the states are finding it difficult to pay salaries.
One of the challenges we have is finance, and at the same time, even in your state where you expect lots of support – you find out that some wouldn’t come out to give the necessary support.
I would want to appeal that we need to encourage these boys, even when they make mistakes clap for them so that they can have the feelings that they have people around them.
I still want to appeal to people, let us work together to make Kwara United a great team and to have good results.
I just want the people to understand that, it is good to have premier league team in Kwara.
How would you evaluate the performance of Kwara United at the ongoing abridge league?
As I speak with you now, we are in the 7th position with about 12 points. It is not a bad result for now because there are few things that I want you to really understand.
We have an outstanding home match with Rangers. We have played week 11 now, and if you look at it, we have played 10 matches. We are hoping to play Kastina United this weekend at home. On Wednesday, we are playing an outstanding -Rangers again.
For stanza, we have double home also. We have played double away last week.
So if we are able to put all these together and work very hard to achieve results, definitely we will be at the top, I can assure you.
How do you think we can boost Grassroots spot developments in Kwara State?
Yes, we need the support of people. It’s not just something we can leave in the hands of government alone.
We want to encourage people to come and encourage football…
Cut-In: How?
Sports makes crime rate to drop. Most of these young boys when they have something doing, probably they have passion for football and we encourage them, they will drop other vices and focus on football.
That is why I said it is very important that grassroots football needs to be aided.
We appeal to government as well because in those days, you see primary schools competing inter house competition, primary schools against each other at the local government level. Unfortunately, such is not the case now.
But if we can go back and do the same thing, the way it was then, we will see that lots of talents abound in the rural areas.
There are lots of boys in the rural areas that are playing football, but they don’t have opportunity to showcase their tailent beyond that local ambit.
I think if we begin to organize competition at the grassroots level, we will be able to pick talents and this will definitely help in reducing crime.
Are you of the opinion that school curriculum on sports need to be overhauled?
Yes. I don’t really know what the curriculum of schools is now. In those days, sporting activities used to take higher priority in schools then, unlike now.
When we were in the primary school then, there was much time for games. In many schools today, there is no football pitch, not to talk of gathering students to play football. There is disparity between the curriculum then and now.
Government need to do more in this regards, at the same time individuals and corporate bodies too.
What do you want Kwara soccer fans to remember you for after leaving office as Kwara United chairman?
That I was able to take the team to premier league two times, at the same time I was able to get continental ticket.
And before I leave Kwara United I want to make sure that the club is either playing in the continental or playing at the top level in the league.