Lagos – Residents of Ajegunle community in Lagos State on Saturday called on the state government to develop the vast sporting potential in the area through the provision of adequate sporting facilities.

Mr Obinna Nwabueze, Vice Chairman, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Council, made the appeal on behalf of the residents when top government officials monitored the sanitation exercise in the area.

Mr Aderemi Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, who led other officials, found some youths in the area playing football during exercise.

Nwabueze said that Ajegunle had become known for producing great sports stars, adding that many national and international sporting heroes had emerged from the community.

“We want the state government to build at least a mini stadium here, where our talented youths can practice and develop their skills to become the next generation of sporting stars.

“Ajegunle, we all know, is a talent-based community and has helped to produce national stars like Samson Siasia and others who the teeming youths in this area see as role models.

“But, it is ironical that with this long history of talent discovery, Ajegunle, as of today, cannot boast of a single playing field.

“The situation now is that our talents are being wasted.

“We are calling on the state government to support our talents. They can convert the open spaces in this community to sports centres,“ he said.

Ibirogba said the government would consider their appeal, but condemned the flouting of the sanitation law by some youths who played football on the streets during the exercise.

He stressed that the sanitation period was not a time for young people to play football, warning that their passion for sports should not be allowed to conflict with their duty to their environment. (NAN)