From Ayinla Bashir, Ilorin
Kwara state has described athletes who train with Kwara facilities, and who in turn compete for other states in major and minor competitions as corrupt and insincere, and has decided that such athletes will henceforth, be denied the usage of the state’s facilities.
It was also agreed that the athletes will not have engaged in such acts without the knowledge of their coaches, adding that coaches involved in such will be heavily sanctioned.
These are part of the resolutions reached at the meeting of the Chairmen of Sports Associations in the state, at the Conference Room of the kwara state Sports Council on Wednesday.
The 10-point communiqué drawn at the end of the marathon meeting chaired by the Chairman of Kwara State Athletics Association, Alhaji Tunde Abdulkareemn dwelled on facilities, welfare of sportsmen and women, as well as increased funding for sports development.
The Kwara State Sports Association Chairmen congratulated the Executive Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi and other elective political office holders, and wish them a successful and sports friendly tenure.
The body realized the importance of good sporting facilities to sports development, and the strategic position of sports to the general wellbeing of the society calling for the urgent upgrade of the facilities and mobilization of all a sundry to take active participation in sports for healthy living.
While calling on the State Government to prioritize the welfare of the athletes, coaches, administrators and staff of the state sports council for optimum performance, the body unanimously agreed that the Sports Council is underfunded and understaffed as they appealed to the government to address these issues by increasing the monthly subvention as these will also curb poaching of talented athletes who have been trained by the state technical department.
The communiqué signed by Dr Steve Olarinoye also identified that the project of sports development is capital intensive, and therefore, called on the government to encourage and partner with cooperate world and philanthropist to develop sports.
Virtually all Sports Associations agreed at the gathering, to organize befitting championships to mark His Excellency’s first 100 days in office in line with the policy trust of the Governor to sports development.
The Sports Associations will use the opportunity to commence preparation for the 5th edition of National Youth Games holding at the University of Ilorin from September 7 – 17, 2019, and the National Sports Festival scheduled for Benin City, Edo State in March 2020.
On grassroots sports, the body suggested that Mini Sports Centers be constructed in each of the three Senatorial Districts and equally, improve the existing sports facilities in the schools.
