Boccia Sport Nigeria, has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Sport and Youth Development (FMSYD) to grant them a federation status.
Frank Harrison, the national coordinator of the sport said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, as the organisation marked its second anniversary in the country.
Harrison said the situation was the sport’s greatest challenge at the moment, adding that the sport has seen a huge rise in interest since its introduction in the country in 2022.
“I would describe myself as the inventor of the event in the country because I introduced it to players at the National Para Sports Festival in Abuja in 2022.
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“So far, we have over 200 athletes from different states participating in the sport, with over 20 of them from the FCT present at the anniversary today.
“We look forward to hosting a national championship in June as well as taking part in a continental event in July, but this can only be possible if we get government’s approval in becoming a federation.
“We have written several times to the ministry with the necessary requirements but we are yet to get any favourable response from them.
“We also hope to take the game to schools but this is only possible when we become a federation,” Harrison said.
NAN reports that Boccia, a Paralympic event, is a precision ball sport usually contested by athletes with severe physical disabilities.
