Lack of sponsorship, bane of golf development in Nigeria — Airfirst Boss
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The Chief Executive Officer of Airfirst Maintenance and Engineering Nigeria Limited, Engr Gbolahan Abatan has said that game of golf would take its rightful place in Nigeria with more sponsorship from privileged Nigerians and corporate organisations.
Engr Gbolahan Abatan said that it was also wrong for people to always tag golf as the sport for the rich saying that “you don’t judge a book by its cover, it is like looking at someone’s face and concluded that this person will be wicked only for you to move closer and found out that he actually has a loving heart. People must move closer to golfers and discover that it is not that expensive and it is a game for everyone irrespective of your status”
He revealed that it was against dispelling such misconception about golf while also giving people platform to play and develop their skills in the game that informed the decision of his engineering company, Airfirst to get involved in promotion of the game.
Abatan gave this explanation while speaking with journalists on the sideline of 2nd Airfirst annual golf tournament held at Abeokuta Golf Club, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
Over 120 golfers including the Commissioner for health, Dr Tomi Coker, two term former federal lawmaker, Hon Kayode Amusan, Otunba Segun Onabolu, past President of Sagamu Golf Club among others across the federation participated in the two days tournament.
Describing golf as a game of life, the Aeronautic Engineer said, “the game of golf is the best for anyone above the age of 50 because at this age you cannot jog, you can not run, jump or play football but golf has almost zero accident or incident and you exercise the whole of your body from head to toe, it’s quite a very technical game, it gets you thinking and swinging every part of your body. Your whole body is relaxed and you are better for it because your health is rejuvenated.”
He said “I have always seen golf as a game of Life because it has a way of revealing who you are, it shows your character whether you are greedy, dishonest, or a risk taker among others, it will reveal all this when you play.
“This is due to how the golf course is designed, when you play the ball, your reaction will show if you are greedy, the way you record your game will show if you are dishonest. It will also show if you are a risk taker. You can see the trees on the golf course that serve as obstacle, if your ball goes outside the trees instead of staying humble and rescuing yourself, you now want to do something else to help yourself it will all show”
He said lack of adequate sponsorship is the major constraint to developing golf in the country.
Abatan said “we need sponsorship to develop the game of golf and that is why Airfirst and other partners are getting involved. The challenge in the development of this game in Nigeria is sponsorship. I know of three to four guys in Abeokuta Golf Club who will dust Tiger Woods but we lack sponsorship and that is how we can aid these players and push them to the global scene.
Speaking further, he said, “For development of golf, we are planning to have golf academy so that we have a kind of catch them young programme for our golfers from secondary schools. We shall also be very much involved in developing the Golf Resort that was initiated by Late Apagun Olumide, the rooms there will take about 75 people with other facilities.”
