Residents demand better sports infrastructure in Gwagwalada to unlock youth potential

Residents of Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory have called for urgent improvements to sports facilities, citing poor infrastructure and lack of equipment as barriers to youth development. In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, several residents said that despite high interest in sports among young people, progress is hindered by inadequate pitches, insufficient gear, and irregular competitions. Samuel Peter, a grassroots football coach, said many talented youths lack access to proper training environments and called for regular community tournaments and private sector sponsorship to create pathways for athletes. He emphasized that sports foster discipline, teamwork, and leadership while steering youth away from crime.

Grassroots footballer Obaletin Jude described training on rough, uneven pitches and often playing without enough balls, while Alake Destiny highlighted the absence of lighting for evening practice and the risk of injury from poor field conditions. Destiny stressed that better facilities would encourage consistent participation. Adejoh Israel noted that although football, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis are popular, many facilities built years ago are poorly maintained, with damaged equipment and incomplete courts limiting access. He added that snooker has grown in popularity due to available centres, but football is often played on sandy or rocky surfaces. Martins Temidayo pointed out the lack of standard swimming facilities, restricting training opportunities for interested residents. Some privately owned centres offer indoor games like table tennis and snooker, though users must pay to access them.

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