National athletics coach, Olalekan Soetan has hailed the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) decision to establish an Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board as a crucial step toward addressing grassroots challenges and fostering a sustainable system for producing elite athletes in Nigeria.

In an exclusive chat with Brila.net, Soetan expressed optimism about the potential impact of the initiative, emphasizing the importance of creating high-performance centers across the country to provide structured training environments for athletes and coaches alike.

“It’s a good development that the NSC has finally come up with a commission focusing on elite athletes and podium performance,” Soetan said.

“I believe this will lead to the establishment of high-performance centers all over Nigeria, which are essential for grooming talent.”

Coach Soetan highlighted the need for the new board to prioritize both athletes and their coaches, pointing out that the success of athletes is intrinsically tied to the quality of coaching they receive.

“You can’t just pay athletes and neglect the coaches who train them,” he noted.

“I hope that as they consider what to pay athletes, they will also compensate the coaches who are instrumental to their development.”

The coach further stated that these high-performance centers would ensure that coaches are actively involved in shaping future champions, rather than leaving decision-making to a select few individuals.

“With centers in place, coaches will naturally be part of the system. But if a few people are simply projecting and deciding who to pay without involving those on the ground, it won’t have the desired impact,” he added.

Soetan believes that under the right leadership, the board has the potential to revolutionize athlete development in Nigeria.

“This initiative has the capacity to drive meaningful change.”

“If implemented effectively, it will create opportunities for athletes and coaches at the grassroots level, ensuring that talent is nurtured and Nigeria remains competitive on the global stage,” he concluded.