The Technical Director, Nigeria Deaf Football Association (NDFA), Banjo Kamiludeen on Friday solicited for the support of various state sports councils across the nation to promote the sport.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that if the sport was supported more, it would help bring its awareness to potential players who were ignorant of its existence.

“Every arm of our sports authority must join the wagon of sports development, especially those involving people living with one health challenge or the other.

“Deaf football is making waves and we must spread the opportunity to potential players in all the states through the councils so that they can also develop their talents.

“I am optimistic that when such awareness is created, this category of players will be happy to identify with their peers in contributing to football development in Nigeria.”

The technical director emphasised the need for the state councils to ensure only coaches knowledgeable in the nurturing of players were allowed to conduct the training schedules.

According to him, there are techniques and standard rules applied in the sport, which forms a major part of the training and grooming of the players.

“Because the players are hearing-impaired, coaches must be acquainted with their sign languages, especially those used to indicate the football rules because that is the only way to catch them.

“They require attention and patience and anybody handling them must be ready to come down to their level so that they can in turn abide by the rules.”

He said he was confident that with adequate measures on ground, budding talents wasting away would be identified and engaged in series of follow-up programmes by the councils. (NAN)

•Photo shows football stadium.

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