5-Time Olympic legend Kaffo drives talents hunt at Lagos community

Posted : 12 January 2025

With music flowing from the large speakers mounted at strategic corners of the dusty Irede Street in Okerube-Abaranje, around Ikotun in downtown Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, participants, who were thrilled by the maiden Sports Fiesta organized by Bose Kaffo Innovations, have appealed for more events in the New Year.

Children, starting from age eight, moved joyfully to the rhythm as they engaged in table tennis, basketball, and snooker, despite the heat from the scorching sun.

Participants from the street and its adjoining areas, as well as passersby, seized the opportunity to participate in different sports at no cost.

While some adults, including women, tried to roll back the years with nostalgic strokes on the boards, the children found their levels on the mini-table tennis setups provided by the High Performance expert.

Wheelchair basketball players also joined in with a demonstration game.

For many, it was their first experience, and they were awed by the presence of the five-time Olympic legend who brought sports and entertainment right to their doorsteps.

The Sports Fiesta appeared to have hit the soft spot of an area where constant hustling on the streets and the daily rat-race for survival have deprived residents of the awareness of their innate talents.

The birth of a Sports Fiesta in this locality, known for other different activities, was, according to some observers, like creating an oasis in the desert.

For Bose Kaffo, who became the first woman on the continent to participate in five Olympics, watching the raw joy and excitement on their faces, she described the atmosphere as soul-satisfying.

On the sidelines, adults were given medical support by Zeniva Pharmacy, which checked their sugar levels and also provided antimalarial drugs.

As time wound down and the volunteers signaled for all activities to end, most participants wore long faces, stopping reluctantly while appealing for more.

The hunger has been ignited, as it was indeed an eye-opening event.

"I enjoyed the Sports Fiesta, and it was amazing!" said Farouk, a teenager. "I’ve never seen anything like this before. This is my first time seeing something like this right on our street. I’m very happy and excited.

"This is going to help me become a sportsman, and I thank the sponsor of the Sports Fiesta."

The Amazon has been resolute with her mission of sparking awareness right at the grassroots of the country's talent pool.

According to the Sports Ethics and Integrity expert, her plan, barring any financial limitations, is to expand the impactful outdoor program to different areas of the state, where its teeming young and restless population in the suburbs yearns for sporting platforms to display their hidden talents.

"This is fulfilling! Can you see how excited they are? This dream has been in the works for some years now, and I’m glad it’s eliciting this reaction from them.

"They’ve played table tennis, basketball, and snooker. You know, this is how you activate interest among young ones who could become superstars in the near future. With more support, we hope to do more," she stated.

5-Time Olympic legend Kaffo drives talents hunt at Lagos community

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics