Cross River laments loss of over 22 athletes

CROSS River State government has revealed that it has lost over 22 of its athletes to poachers after investing over $9.8 million on sports development.

Briefing newsmen at the weekend at the U. J. Esuene Stadium during the formal presentation of Cross River athletes, who featured at the last Commonwealth Games and national table tennis tournament, the Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Otuekeong Orok Duke said, “in our athletics we are making progress because when we came we did not inherit any athlete that so much money had been expended on. May be imaginary athletes but what we came to find out was that eight of our girls that were running for Cross River State were sold to Bahrain. They are now Bahrainis.

“14 of our athletes, basketball players are now in US universities without having anymore link with us. What I have come to conclude regarding that is that all the money spent by Governor Liyel Imoke on sports were spent to recruit people that were finally sold out to other countries. Now we don’t have any, none of the athletes created in that period is running for Cross River State government.”

He said the previous government spent over $1.4 million a year for seven years to groom new athletes, adding, “it did not include the money for tours and athletes grooming, yet all the athletes have disappeared. It happened before we came and it had to do with the method employed.”

To check this ugly trend, Duke said, “if you discover athletes and groom them, you must get the government to key in by employing them.