The chairman of Lagos State Flag Football Association (LSFFA), Mr Bodunrin Sasore (aka BB) has revealed that a plan is being worked on by administrators of the innovative sport towards taking it into the corridors of various academic institutions.
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Although he admitted it involves an elaborate and intricate process, which must take into account the availability of infrastructure, safety of children and avoiding conflict with regular curricular of schools, BB Sasore stressed that the academic level of flag football is already a scheme that is being thought about seriously.
He added in an exclusive interview with Sports247 that the efforts of Showtime Flag Football League (SFFL), through its annual Showtime Summer Series, sanctioned by Nigerian Flag Football Federation (NFFF), have been commendable, especially in providing a proper focal point to test run the game’s impact among a large array of teeming sports fans.
Sasore declared, “The best beauty in this game being promoted by Showtime Flag Football League is the ability to include all kinds of demographics.
We see males and females competing in the biggest coed league in the world. We also see people from different backgrounds … whether Muslim or Christian, various professions, from any part of Nigeria … where you come from is not a bother.
“The biggest and most important point about this is that you see an inclusion of different demographics. Wherever you are from, whatever your background, it doesn’t matter. Talent, as they say, can never be put under a bed … you can’t hide it.
“So, we are passionate about that. We enjoy this atmosphere as people who come from all walks of life and from various families. We are here to mingle excitedly like friends.”
The LSFFA top shot further pointed out that the successful organisation of four matches on the same day each weekend in the Showtime Summer Series at Lekki area of Lagos, with week three fixtures coming up this Sunday, has given officials the courage to think of venturing into the academic sector.
He expatiated,
“Based on this competition, we’ve tested our operational ability at the professional level, now we know we can actually take that structure to the academic sector.
However, the things we’ve actually worried about with schools are people not doing it the right way. When you are working with children, you have to be careful … knowing who would be responsible for their safety and all that.
“So, it’s important that they put in the infrastructure first and see how it works. Having said that, we are encouraged in how we see a lot of young people here, and every team that has a minor ensures that their parents are aware.
They’ve signed, given consent and their confirmations. That means they are clear of what this is, especially when we may have to play into the night.
There should be a system to ensure that people get back to their homes safely.”
He concluded by expressing optimism that the successful run of events and activities at the Showtime Summer Series has laid a strong foundation on which Lagos State Flag Football Association, its affiliates and all stakeholders of the sport can now start talking about venturing into schools to sensitise students about the new event and reveal its benefits to them lucidly.
“We’ve tested it on a very small, safe level and now we are confident that we can go to institutions and partner with them. Let’s say, ‘Okay, where’s your talent? How will it affect your education?’
“We must also see it as a route towards gaining college education abroad through sports; after which they can find a living and do other things in life. So, we have a passion for schools.
We are going to start, I believe, at the secondary and tertiary levels, then move lower, younger and younger. It is definitely something we have plans for as part of our expansion round the country,” Sasore posited.
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