The executive chairman, Kwara State Sports Commission, KSC, says the decision of Governor AbdulRahaman Abdulrazaq to upgrade the former state sports council to a commission is the biggest legacy of his administration in sports.
Coach Bolaji Mogaji stated this while fielding questions from Journalists in commemoration of the anniversary of the commission and his third year in officer in Ilorin the Kwara state capital.
Mallam Mogaji who is also the pioneer chairman of the commission said the legacy project would change sports in not only Kwara but also in the country.
The veteran squash player considers himself an instrument in the hands of God and the governor in accomplishing projects in the sporting firmament in the country.
“We have a spanking new squash court which is the best of its kind in Africa; there is also a world class table tennis court in place, ready to place Kwara in world map for these games.
“These are inimitable achievements accomplished by the Governor through the sports commission,” he said.
Coach Mogaji, a national squash legend, believed to have passed squash lessons to heads of state and military brass, 28 years was a victim of a politically motivated purge from the old Kwara Sports Council.
Like the rejected stone, Coach Mogaji returned as the corner stone upon which Governor Abdurazaq chose to rebuild the decaying sports infrastructure in the state.
Speaking further Coach Bello however, admitted that his return, almost three decades ago had few challenges.
” What we left was not what I met 28 years ago. There was discipline back then.
” People were dedicated and ready to work, not for money but for name and prestige. It was not the same thing when I came back.
“The atmosphere I met was so bad. I left here with when the then sports council had 17 vehicles. We had a truck, a 911, luxerious bus, tractor, ambulances, Danah so many. I came here and met nothing; and we have to work.
“If we had remained as council, it wouldnt have been easy for us to work. The governor granted sports a commission. With a Commission we have direct access to the governor. The governor accomplished a lot with the sports commission. We revamped the Kwara United; We got a new director of sport in Mallam Bako,” he said
Credit to Isaac Afolabi