Athletes and coaches who are representing Ondo State at the ongoing National Youth Games going on in Ilorin, Kwara state are protesting against the inability of the State Sports Council to pay their allowances
Recall that the National Youth Games which began a few days ago is designed for athletes whose ages are not more than 15 years
It started on Sept. 7 and will end on Sept.17
A coach with the Ondo state contingent, Moses Usifo, who spoke with reporters on behalf of the aggrieved athletes and coaches, accused the management of the sports council of negligence.
He described the act as barbaric, stressing that “Its still shocking that most of our athletes at the ongoing national youth games in Ilorin are starving, yet competing,”
The boxing coach revealed that the athletes and coaches have not been given a dime since the commencement of the event and efforts to solve an imminent crisis proved abortive.
But the state commissioner for youths and sports, Barr. Dotun Owanikin described the allegation as untrue ,saying “To the best of my knowledge,this information is not true”.
He said, ,”I know you will discover at the end of the day that the remainder of the officials allowances had been scheduled for payment shortly after d games while the athletes had been fully paid
“l mean all athletes. The officials will receive their balance of allowances when they return to Ondo state. That is the gospel truth”
