National Youth Game, Right Channels For Talents Discovery....Olympian

National Youth Games, a right channel for talent discovery - Olympian by Tajudeen Ahmad Former Olympian, Catherine Ekuta says the National Youth Games is a right channel to discover fresh athletes that can be polished to represent Nigeria at the international events. Speaking in an interview with www.bsnsports.com.ng in Ilorin, Mrs Ekuta said the reduction of participants' age from 17 to 15 years was in accordance with the international standard particularly to pick those that will represent the country at the continental and international youth games. Describing judo as a game that requires funding and administrative assistance, the former Olympics medal winner called for private sponsorship of the game at the state and local levels for it to gain popularity like football. Mrs Ekuta who was a judo medallist at the African Youth Games in 1999, 2003 and 2007 said the National Federation of the game was working assiduously to ensure that more private individuals and corporate bodies join hands with it to develop the game in Nigeria. "We have talents in abundance but our major problem is the development of these talents. This can be done by introducing some of these games into the primary and secondary schools across the country to catch them young." "Primary school is the best platform to identify potential skills in a child and if this is built upon, such a child will be successful in that game through continuity at the secondary level." "I therefore called on the government's to ensure that primary and secondary school games are given more priority", said Mrs Ekwuta.