By Abdul Momoh

The Deputy Director, Kwara State Ministry of Sports, Bako Ibrahim has described the last Kwara State Sport Festival as one of the best fiesta in the recent time.

He stated this recently during a chat with sports writers in Ilorin the Kwara State capital.

According him, ‘the last kwafest has been adjudged as one of the best in the history of the state having went into oblivion for over two decades.’

“Atleast within the short time of preparation, we were still able to host the festival. Honestly, the festival is the best in the recent time judging from the numbers of sports we paraded.

“We paraded about 26 sporting events which had never happened in the state before. And the numbers of athletes that participated were indeed wonderful.

“So, I think it’s one of the best. The Kwara State Government efforts toward the success of it is highly commendable”, he said.

The erstwhile Kwara United scribe also traced his steps to limelight in sports administration to grassroots involvement which has spanned for over 3 decades.

“Grassroots is my back ground. I started as a grassroots coach as far back in 1989. I led a YSFON team to Oluyole ’91.

“I was a Games Master for about 20 years. No game master has ever beat my records in Kwara State when it comes to winning trophies and laurels.

“Presently, I have a team called ‘Greater Tommorow Football Academy’. So grassroots is my back bone and I can never do away with it,” Bako stressed.

Reacting to the speculation tipping him as the next Director of Sports at the Kwara State Sports Council, Bako played down the rumor by saying it is the prerogative of the Kwara State Governmment to decide who the next Director of Sports would be.

“What I know is that am a potential Director as a Deputy Director in the ministry. It is left for the Kwara State Government to decides who to be the next Director of Sports and that is just all I know about it.”

Bako however lauded the state government’s decision on the suspension of all sporting activities in the state owing to the scourge of Covid-19 pandemic.

“I think our lives are more important than sports. This novel disease is worldwide and it is when we are alive that we know there is a sport. So the suspension of all sporting activities is indeed okay,” he concluded.

  Ibrahim Bako, KWAFEST, Kwara State, National Sports Festival