Lagos – Dickson Omoro, the Chairman, Nigeria Traditional Wrestling Referee Association, on Friday observed that Nigerians love for foreign sports was detrimental to the growth of indigenous games in the country.
Omoro in Lagos said that lack of support from both government and corporate organisations also contributed to the general retrogression in indigenous sports.
"Nigerians do not appreciate whatever things that is indigenous; our love for foreign sports is killing our sports internally.
"We are not serious in this part of the world with anything that is ours. I do not think we should neglect our indigenous sports," he said.
According to him, the love for foreign sports has made most Nigerians to lose interest in sponsoring traditional sports, saying that the sports can only be promoted if they were well sponsored.
The chainman noted that sports like judo and taekwondo were traditional sports from Asia countries and which had being promoted into the Olympics through promotion and sponsorship.
He said that Nigeria's traditional sports like wrestling, Langa, Dambe, Kukawa, Ayo and others failed to find themselves into the Olympics due to lack of promotion.
"With adequate promotion and attention, our traditional sports will go a long way in projecting Nigeria's image to the outside world," he added.
Omoro then urged the government, private organisations and spirited individuals to aid the development of traditional sports with sponsorship of competitions, seminars and symposia.
He said that his association struggled all to no avail to get notable individuals and corporate organisations to sponsor competitions for the development of traditional sports in the country.
The chairman noted that if promoted into the Olympics and other international competitions, Nigeria can be sure of winning laurels at such competitions.
He said that Asian countries were sure of winning medals in their traditional sports at international competitions, saying that Nigeria too would be sure of winning medals in its traditional games if included. (NAN)
