….At 13th Inter House Sports Competition
Ferscoat International School, Lagos proprietor and Director of Studies (DOS) Pastor Felix Opata has expressed concern over the future of schools sports talents.
Pastor Opata was speaking during the inter house Sports competition where future talents were discovered in various sports at the event.
The 13th Biennial competition with the theme: ‘Discovering Young Stars For Greater Heights’ was held at the Alade Sport Complex, Ipaja, Lagos had the primary and secondary section of the school competing in different track-and-field events and match past adorned in different colourful attires.
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The Founder and Director of Studies, Pastor Felix Opata in his speech expressed joy in what the school represents, adding that the school is not only building scholars but raising stars, team players and citizens who understand the value of hard work and sportsmanship.
“Today our school has transformed into more than grass and track lines rather it has become a theatre of courage, discipline, teamwork and dreams in motion.”
He explained that inter house sports is not merely about races or trophies but it is about discovering strength participants didn’t know they had and cheering for others as they chase their own victory.
From right: Director of Study, Ferscoat International School, Pastor Felix Ebenezer Opata; Zonal Director, OEQA, Zone2 Alimosho, Mr. Babalola Abdul Rasheed; Chairman of the Occasion, Richard Ojo Adenike; Director of Finance, Frescoat International School, Deaconess Catherine Faith Opata; House Master Yellow House, Mrs. Iyke Festa and House Master Yellow House, Mrs. Paulina Chidioke, during the 13th Biennial Inter-House Sport Competition by Ferscoat International School, Ipaja Lagos.
Pastor Opata explained further that sports teaches lessons no classroom alone can provide. “On this field, our students learn resilience when they fail and rise again.
“They learn unity when they run not just for themselves but for their house, they learn integrity when they compete fairly and celebrate graciously,” he added.
“Sports isn’t all about winning but also about participating. We are teaching them sportsmanship, we are teaching them teamwork, integrity, fairness. So, it is all encompassing; it’s not just running to win. They should continue training. It will be their turn the next time to win.”
While encouraging the students, Pastor Opata urged them to run with determination, jump with confidence, compete with honour whether they win a medal or not and remember that true victory lies in giving their best.
From left: Prince Ebuka Jude; Director of Study, Ferscoat International School, Pastor Felix Ebenezer Opata; Father of the Day, Olu of Ipasa Kingdom, Oba Kolawole Ajani Egundipe Director of Finance, Ferscoat International School, Deaconess Catherine Faith Opata and Chairman of the Occasion Richard Ojo Adenike, during the 13th Biennial Inter-House Sport Competition by Ferscoat International School, Ipaja Lagos.
“To our teachers and coaches, thank you for shaping not only minds but character because your dedication ensures that our children grow into disciplined and responsible individuals.
He thanked the parents whom he said sponsored the event, noting that the crop of parents the school has now are people that understand that sports is part of education.
He however said despite these efforts by the school and the parents in terms of sports development which is the psychomotor part of education, the future of the talents discovered at the event remain daunting as no one takes it up from there.
“I don’t know how we will pick it up from here. It will be my joy that talents that are discovered here will be taken to the state level and to the national level. So far, I’ve not seen any.
Director of Study, Ferscoat International School, Pastor Felix Ebenezer Opata; Chairman of the Occasion, Richard Ojo Adenike; Director of Finance, Fersoat International School, Deaconess Catherine Faith Opata; Pastor Samuel Afolabi and Pastor Johnson Ibuoyi, during the 13th Biennial Inter-House Sport Competition by Ferscoat International School, Ipaja Lagos.
He urged government to be interested in school sports in order to discover talents so that the nation would not lack talents.
Earlier while declaring the event open, the Chairperson, Mrs. Adenike Richard-Ojo described the event a special day in the school calendar where classrooms become very quiet and the field becomes very loud and full of excitement.
Mrs. Richard-Ojo who is the Head of Sales, Just Food Limited and a parent commended the teachers, coaches for the outcome of the event saying the competition is also about lessons to be learnt that no textbook at school can taught.
“Sports teaches us courage, sports teaches us teamwork and it also teaches us a way to rise after every fall. It also teaches us a way to celebrate others and most importantly how to keep going even when the finish line seems far away.
“To our dear athletes today, it is a moment for every house to shine. Remember that when the medals fail, it is the character you build through sports that will save your life forever. And to all the houses, I hope each of you will help your house to win.
“However either you win Gold, or you win Silver or you win Bronze, you are all champions today,” she said.
She also urged government on the need to invest more into sports by helping to develop talents from school such as events like this.
“I expect them to have people here that can be able to pick one or two people and then take them to the training school to train them to be who we expect them to be; the runners that we have around, the footballers that we know; they can always get them from this kind of environment.
“I implore the government to come to events like this and catch the talents young as this will help to encourage more children to have interest in sports activities not only in Nigeria but to international level.
Father of the day, Hon. Bisi Yusuf in his remarks stated that sports is an important aspect of children development therefore the Lagos State government has continued to invest in sports in schools across the state.
Hon. Yusuf who said he is always interested in what children do commended the school for their resilience over the years in sports as well as the children for always putting their all in the games.
A total of four houses were represented at the primary level which include Blue, Yellow, Green and Purple while the secondary school had six houses, Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, Red and Pink.
BV.
