By Andrew Abah
The Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) has commenced its “Catch-Them-Young” multi-sports trials, marking a significant milestone in the preparation for the 2025 National Youth Games.
The talent identification programme aims to discover, nurture, and develop talents who will represent Lagos State not only at the 2025 National Youth Games (NYG) in Asaba, Delta State, but also a pipeline of champions who will represent Lagos State on the national and international stage.
The trials, which commenced a few weeks ago at various sporting facilities across the state, will span multiple athletic disciplines, including track and field events, swimming, gymnastics, dead sports, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, basketball, football, chess, ayo and other sports. Young athletes aged 9-14 years from various parts of the state are participating in the programme.
Speaking at the venue of the trials for track and field events held today, Mr. Lekan Fatodu, Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, emphasised the strategic importance of early talent identification in building a sustainable sports ecosystem.
“The ‘Catch-Them-Young’ programme represents our commitment to discovering and nurturing raw talent from the grassroots level,” said Mr. Fatodu. “We believe that every child in Lagos State has the potential to become a world champion, and through this comprehensive trial system, we are creating pathways for young athletes to transform their dreams into reality.
This initiative will not only prepare us for the 2025 National Youth Games but will establish a legacy programme that will continuously feed our sports development pipeline for years to come.”
Mr. Fatodu further revealed that the commission is exploring partnerships with international sports development organisations to provide additional exposure and training opportunities for exceptional athletes emerging from the trials.
The Commission’s efforts include training camps and a strong emphasis on adhering strictly to age eligibility rules. The focus remains on strategic areas where Lagos has consistently demonstrated strength, while also exploring new potentials across all disciplines.
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