Sports minister wades into powerlifting federation crisis ...settles athletes’ outstanding arrears
The Minister of Youths and Sport Development, Sunday Dare has waded into the crisis rocking the Nigeria Para-powerlifting Federation ahead of the 2020 World Para-powerlifting World Cup in Abuja.
It will be recalled that the athletes had disregarded the federation’s directive to report to Abuja camp, instead they stayed in Lagos which is their traditional training base.
The athletes also protested against the unceremonious exclusion of national team coach, Are Feyisetan.
Dare however declared that there is no crisis in the federation but misunderstanding during a reconciliatory meeting he called between board members of the NPPF, athletes representatives and staff of the ministry.
“We regard Para Power Lifting as a key part of our sports development. Being able to empower these athletes is a demonstrator that there is ability and in disability.
“They have brought glory to Nigeria in international competitions. We want team work and the ministry is working with the board to make sure we have a successful preparation and camping. There is no crisis.
The misunderstandings have been sorted out,” he declared.
It was however gathered that the Permanent Secretary,
Gabriel Aduda has asked the athletes to report to Abuja camp just as Para-powerlifting coaches, Kemi Gbadebo and Patience Igbiti, have been instructed to coordinate the movement of the senior and junior athletes in Lagos to Abuja.
Meanwhile, athletes who represented the country to the CAA U-18/U-20 championships in Abidjan,Cote D’Ivoire in April 2019 have begun to receive their allowances owed them according to the acting AFN president, Olamide George
It will be recalled the athletes travelled by road for three days and were not paid their allowances despite the release of N13m by the sports ministry.
“We are very grateful to the Honourable Minister for coming to the rescue of the athletes who were subjected to indecent treatments just because they wanted to represent their country, Nigeria,’ said the AFN acting president who confirmed that the athletes started receiving bank alerts last weekend,” he said.