Nigeria has come a long way from parents berating children for being interested in sports. With the signings of Nigerian footballers in the premiership and other football leagues, many parents and youths are noticing that sports involvement is way more than just a pastime.
Athletes have gained more respect and recognition in Nigeria, but this has no bearing on increased participation among children. While several children have taken up an interest in one form of sports or the other, there is no visible growth in their performances. Many of these children abandon it along the way.
Although there are many reasons for the slow growth of sports in Nigeria, the parent is at the forefront. When parents begin to wholeheartedly accept their children's choice of sports as a path, we will start to notice positive changes in participation. Many parents whose children partake in sports activities do so for recreational purposes. The instant interest develops further; these children get quickly pulled back. Many people say it's because funding a career in sports can be challenging. The apparent reason is; We have yet to appreciate the true extent of the influence of sports on our children and society.
There needs to be a more genuine interest in sports partition. Parents erroneously believe these activities do not often lead to fulfilling careers. As previously mentioned, a lack of genuine interest in the opportunities that abound in sports would lead to such conclusions. While there is inadequate government support for sports, it is erroneous to assume that participation in sports should be just for leisure.
Some parents also feel overwhelmed with a child's interest in sports as it is outside the scope of their understanding and does not conform to the realities of their life or the truths they have created. Imagine a child born into a family where members are Physicians, lawyers, bankers, and engineers. A family where academics and a set way of life are the norms, and that child decides on a basketball career! Are families equipped to deal with the choices made by their wards? Unfortunately, attempts to discourage such aspirations commence. Ultimately, the child would only play basketball for leisure and never reach his full potential. Many who have become parents themselves have some time in their life encountered parental resistance that continues to stifle dreams and hopes as it concerns sports.
We're not all ignorant of the development and popularity of sports. After all, many Nigerians are fans of clubs and athletes worldwide. So it is plausible to expect parents to understand a child's interest in sports and further encourage such claims. But sadly, many such parents are not promoting sports in any capacity beyond leisure amongst their children. It's surprising, but understanding the underlying reasons is essential. For many Nigerians who are sports enthusiasts, the love for games is fueled by various signings, record making deals that athletes boast about. So naturally, parents want their children to sign such contracts, but the belief that in Nigeria, getting to the elite level in sports is nearly impossible, so rather than try and miss, they would rather have children pick the safe choice of focusing on academics and a 9-5 job. Unquestionably, this reasoning shows no genuine interest in sports but rather an interest in the accolades that come with sports participation.
I suggest that as parents, we ought to review our opinions on sports and our views on children's participation, delve deeper into understanding sports and the future of sports, understand the positive impacts it can have in our society and the nation at large and most importantly cheer our children on. Regardless of kids' choices or paths, even when such decisions are alien from the future, we have planned, supporting our wards is sacrosanct.
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