Grassroots Sports Get a Boost as Taraba Trains School Games Masters
By Hilary John
The Taraba State Sports Development Commission has concluded a two-day capacity-building seminar for games masters from primary and secondary schools across the state, aimed at strengthening sports development at the grassroots.
The seminar ended on Thursday.
The programme featured practical and theoretical sessions on several sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, football, judo, wrestling and volleyball.
Participants were trained on basic techniques and modern approaches to managing school sports activities.
Speaking during the seminar, the Director of Grassroots Sports, Baba Ayi-Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of proper warm-up before any sporting activity to prevent injuries.
Baba Ayi-Ibrahim
He also encouraged games masters to enrol at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), noting that exposure to professional training would improve their performance and enhance school sports programmes.
An NFF/CAF instructor, Coach John Joseph Chindo, described the seminar as a welcome development, saying the establishment of the Sports Development Commission has brought renewed focus to sports administration in the state.
He noted that bringing together games masters from both primary and secondary schools was a positive step and expressed confidence that participants had gained valuable knowledge to take back to their schools.
Coach Chindo stressed the need for continuity in sports development, warning that lack of support from future administrations could disrupt progress.
He also urged school principals to assign games master responsibilities to teachers with relevant training, background or genuine interest in sports.
In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the Games Masters Forum, Jalingo Education Zone, Mr. Anslem Lamba Vapan, thanked the commission for organizing the seminar, describing it as eye-opener.
He assured that participants would implement the lessons learned and maintain close engagement with the commission whenever the need arises.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Commission, Coach Bulus Hussaini, thanked participants for honoring the invitation, assuring that future seminars would involve more technical resource persons and that participants would be issued National Institute for Sports certificates.
Coach Bulus Hussaini
Coach Hussaini said the seminar marked the beginning of sustained grassroots sports development, adding that similar programmes would be organized on a zonal basis with the support of the state government.
