Lagos – A Lagos State Para-athletics coach, Adenuga Adegboyega on Friday called for more attention to be paid to cerebral palsy football.
Cerebral palsy is the general term for a number of neurological conditions that affect movement and co-ordination of affected individuals.
Adegboyega told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that sports had special roles on the physically challenged.
He said the palsy football was a seven-aside game that was introduced to the country recently.
According to him, the game gives the cerebral palsy patients a sense of belonging and a means of adventure.
“The physically challenged should not be isolated from taking part in sports because of their challenge, but should be made to have a sense of belonging in the society.
“Sports improves their abilities; some of them come to stadium very early for training because of the passion they have for the game. Some of them often perform better than the able bodied.
“The Government and private individuals should not relent in sponsoring and making them happy.’’
Adegboyega then urged parents to desist from keeping their children at home but rather allow them to take active part in sports, noting that it helped to improve them psychologically.
