OLYMPIC PREPARATIONS

Director General of the Commission, Sir Dr Patrick Ekeji, who made the disclosure in a brief chat with the media in Abuja recently, expressed confidence that barring any odds, arrangements has been concluded to obtain the fund from the Federal Government.

Commenting on the resumption of camping and the return of athletics coach, Innocent Egbunike, the DG emphatically said: 'They would resume in the next 14 days because I know that the funds would get to us in the next 14 days.'

He also commented on the qualification of Taekwondo player, Chika Chukwumerije, saying that the dad and other members of his family deserve special commendation, even as he noted that the commission had to borrow to see him through the qualification held in Egypt.

'When you say that I backed Chika all the way, it gives the impression that he is the only athlete that the National Sports Commission (NSC) supports. Let me, however, clearly say that the accolades and all positive things we can say about his qualification should actually go to his father, Senator Chukwumerije. Of course, Chika equally deserves some praises. He is a very focused person, who knows what he wants.

'I agree that he presents all his training programmes to me and I clear them with the president of the federation after looking at them from the technical point of view. In all of these, his father has always provided the funds for him to implement those training programmes. What we have always done, was to defray. Whenever he sends them, I would approve them and give him the go ahead.

'Right now, we have at this moment a South Korean Taekwondo coach. He is staying in Sheraton and Chika is picking the bill, but we will, of course, reimburse him. That was not the best, but he is truly a patriot. The other federations equally do much including Solomon Ogba and the president of weightlifting and wrestling federation and Igali contribute so much,' he said.

The commission's DG further explained: 'All they need from me was just the go-ahead order because they know that we are going to refund. I can tell you that those who are going to the Games are doing their best. We have to evolve a strategy to ensure that the programmes do not suffer. How would Nigerians have taken it if we had not gone to Egypt for the Taekwondo because of lack of fund?

'We had to borrow money from somewhere to make sure we complement what we had. Everybody is happy today, because if there is one sports we have qualified, it was Taekwondo. It is sad that only a few persons know what I go through to run sports in Nigeria today.

'But, it is a challenge and I'm very pleased with it because Nigerians gave me the opportunity to do so. I feel very strongly that we are going to do quite well. Basketball has done well in terms of performance. I hope and wish the teams qualify for the Games but it is going to be a collective effort,' he noted.

Add comment

Name (required)

E-mail (required)

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments

Refresh

Send

Cancel