Lagos Drop Athletes Wey No Dey Perform, Bring in New Stars

Lagos State Sports Commission don begin recruitment of new athletes into their senior team after dem disband the old team wey dem label as “unproductive and undisciplined.” On Friday, the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Olalekan Fatodu, officially dissolve Team Lagos, and come direct say make only the “productive ones” reapply for new opportunity. People dey believe say the decision no be ordinary, as e fit get connection to the recent protest wey some senior athletes do over unpaid cash reward. On Monday, athletes from different local government councils for the state begin troop enter Teslim Balogun Stadium for Surulere to register under the new process wey Lagos Sports Commission just introduce. As Fatodu dey talk to journalists during the registration exercise, he explain say this new move necessary so Lagos fit maintain her position as sports excellence centre for Nigeria. “The glamour days of Lagos as the centre of sports excellence in Nigeria don come back, and we need to put correct measures to make am solid, especially now wey Team Lagos just win for the 2025 National Youth Games for Asaba,” he talk.

Fatodu talk say, “Over time, we don observe say some athletes just dey claim say dem dey represent Lagos, but dem don dey same level for like 15 to 16 years. Those days don pass when 40 to 43-year-old people go dey parade demself as senior athletes for Team Lagos. Lagos no be academy wey dey train professional athletes. Wetin we dey do na to discover fresh talents wey we go groom make dem turn national stars. Now, we don put things in place to reposition sports for the state so better result go show.” He come add say Lagos must carry out reforms wey go make governance strong, promote transparency, and organize the whole sports system well. “Before now, no central database dey to identify athletes or check their performance. Because of that, impostors and old athletes wey don pass their prime don dey use the gap as opportunity to chop. But now, we don launch online portal to register senior athletes, monitor them and evaluate their performance. I dey happy with the way athletes turn up, and I wan assure them say anybody wey meet our standard go get engagement sharp-sharp,” Fatodu talk.