Sports
OLUSEYI Oyebode, Coordinator of the Dolphin Swimming League, has called for broader support to strengthen grassroots swimming development in Nigeria.
Oyebode made the call on Saturday at the eighth season of the Dolphin Swimming League held at Grange School, Ikeja.
He said that the league had grown steadily but needed stronger structures to develop swimmers for international competitions.
“Working at the grassroots has always been very difficult. You need sustainability and structure to support what you are doing,” he said.
Oyebode said the league started as a private initiative but had received support from the Nigerian Olympic Committee, Lagos State Government and Aquatic Federation of Nigeria.
He said the league was working to get more members of the public involved, particularly through the Lagos state swimming team.
Oyebode said many talented swimmers had left Nigeria for the United States and United Kingdom because of better opportunities.
He said stronger collaboration among stakeholders was needed to retain and develop more swimmers locally.
“We need grassroots support to sustain what we are doing. When we have strong collaboration, there is so much we can achieve,” he said.
Oyebode said plans were underway to expand the league to the Southwest and Abuja.
“We are not far from it. Part of our schedule this year is to have the Southwest. Before the end of the season, you will hear that we are moving to Abuja,” he said.
He described swimming as a life skill that teaches discipline and perseverance.
Oyebode also called for more public swimming facilities to enable children to learn the sport from an early age.
Jotham Abdullahi, a swimmer from Corona School, said his target in the new season of the Dolphin Swimming League is to record new personal bests and improve his performance in different events.
Abdullahi, who has competed in the league for three years, said that the competition had taught him that swimming was not just about winning medals.
“I have learned that it is not all about winning medals, but about competing and chasing your time,” he said.
The young swimmer said he had recorded improvements in his performances over the past three years but believed he could achieve more through harder training.
“I think I can improve more by training harder,” he said.
Abdullahi also said participating in the league had helped him make new friends and appreciate the importance of finishing races and improving his personal records.
He said his main focus for the new season was to set new personal bests and perform better in different swimming events.
He dismissed the belief that black people could not swim, saying determination and training could help athletes overcome such limitations.
“The more we can do that, you can see it has been proven wrong here. We have many of our swimmers abroad now,” he said.
Haruna Onuh, a parent, also commended the organisation of the Dolphin Swimming League, noting that the competition was helping children to challenge themselves.
Onuh said the swimmers were not only competing for medals but also working to improve their personal bests.
“What I see the children have done today is challenging themselves, which is the best,” he said.
He described the atmosphere at the competition as very motivating and encouraging, noting the energy among the young swimmers.
Onuh also praised the organisers for the smooth coordination, security and discipline displayed at the event.
He said the competition would contribute to the development of swimming and promote health and fitness among children.
“I think funding is key. We’re going to do our best to support as much as we can as parents,” Onuh said.
Meanwhile, Nseobong Jesimiel, Technical Representative of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) and Technical Consultant, Dolphin Swimming League, described the eighth season as a bigger challenge.
Jesimiel said the league had grown from about 10 schools and clubs to more than 23.
“We have more schools and clubs to handle. Instead of 10 or 11, we now have over 23 schools and clubs.
He said the growth showed that the Dolphin Swimming League was expanding.
“That means Dolphin League is going higher. This is the first day of the eighth season,” he said.
Jesimiel thanked God and Grange School for providing an improved swimming facility for the competition.
“I want to thank God and Grange School for giving us this opportunity and fixing their pool to make it look better,” he said.
He said the league would continue to focus on achieving new milestones.
Omolola Olowolafe, a parent with Aqua Sports, said the Dolphins Swimming League had been a beautiful experience for her children.
“This is our first time at the Dolphins Swimming League, and the children are enjoying themselves and getting the chance to compete after their training.
She said the competition was not just about winning medals, as some of the children might not become professional swimmers.
“They are learning valuable things through swimming, including discipline, consistency and teamwork,” she said
Olowolafe said her children were benefiting from the opportunity to train, compete and challenge themselves.
“That, for me, is the biggest benefit of being part of Aqua Sports,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dolphin Swimming League is in its eighth season and has continued to provide a platform for young swimmers to compete and develop their skills. (NAN)(NAN)
M.P
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