ASABA 2024: Kwara State Coach Fagbemi Looks Towards National Camp, Foreign Trips For Athletes With Disability

Lagos State coach for athletes with disabilities, Ms Auzat Fagbemi has predicted that all the athletes she took to Asaba, Delta State for the 8th National Youth Games, will soon become international stars for Nigeria.

Although only one of her four athletes got medals at the just ended Games in the Delta State capital, Fagbemi insisted that they all showed great potential in their respective events.

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Sports247 gathered that Fagbemi handles shot put, javelin and discuss, but it was only in one of the three events that her protégé won a gold medal, but she stressed how important it was in her maiden outing as a coach.

She said to Sports247 in Asaba, “This is my first time of coming to the competition as a coach. I came with four athletes, but only one won a medal.

“At least, I’m going back home with something from my first competition as a coach. It means I am a golden coach.”

Coach Fagbemi then shot a look into the future and expressed hope that all her athletes will win medals when next they go out for a competition.

“The other three did not win any medal,” she acknowledged, “but I pray to Almighty Allah that they will train hard when get back home and win medals for me the next time we go out, by God’s grace.”

Incidentally, while Fagbemi identified herself as an indigene of Kwara State, she actually took part at Asaba 2024 as a mentor in the Lagos State contingent.

She then disclosed that many positives from the competition and how some of her athletes felt sad when it was time to go home.

Fagbemi retorted, “Most of the children don’t like to go back because they have really enjoyed the competition.

“For some of them, this is their first time in an outing like this, likewise these four that came with me.

“They don’t want to follow me back to the hostel because it means they will have to start preparing to return home.”

She concluded with words of gratitude to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who she said motivated the team in many dimensions and created opportunities for them to keep developing into the next generation of stars.

“I pray that, after this, my athletes will enter the national camp and travel out from there, by God’s grace. That’s my prayer.

“I also really appreciate what Governor Sanwo-Olu has done for us. He gave us a special kit, fed us very well, and took good care of us … especially coaches, athletes, and the secretary.

“That’s why Lagos always comes first in anything of sports. I love that. Apart from that, the general outing here was okay, and we are all happy to be in Asaba.

“We, Lagos State athletes and coaches, are all happy being here,” Fagbemi reassured.

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