What seems a present of disgrace could also be brewing in Staff Nigeria’s camp in Tokyo, venue of the twentieth World Athletics championships, following an alleged poor equipment handed to the athletes by officers of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The World championships will formally begin on Saturday in Tokyo, and in line with SportNow.com.ng, the alleged poor equipment by the AFN is already inflicting a nationwide embarrassment within the camp.
The net platform acknowledged {that a} current revelation by world document holder in 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, by way of a video on social media, that Nigerian athletes had been handed incomplete kits, with out spikes, trainers, warm-up gear, or perhaps a competitors bag, isn’t just disappointing, however disgraceful.
“By any measure, Nigeria’s presence on the twentieth World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan ought to be a second of pleasure,” SportsNow.com.ng acknowledged. “The Nigerian workforce has Tobi Amusan, a former World champion, reigning World document holder and three-time Diamond trophy winner. The workforce additionally has one of the crucial talked about athletes on the earth immediately, Nathaniel Ezekiel, who has dazzled the world within the 400m hurdles, and naturally Ese Brume, the a number of world medalists.
“As a substitute, it has develop into a logo of mismanagement, and the endemic disrespect proven to our athletes. Whereas athletes from different nations arrived absolutely outfitted with professionally packed equipment luggage designed to help peak efficiency, Nigerian representatives had been left scrambling with two pairs of primary objects and no necessities.
“A current revelation by Amusan, by way of a video on social media, that Nigerian athletes had been handed incomplete kits, with out spikes, trainers, warm-up gear, or perhaps a competitors bag, isn’t just disappointing, however disgraceful.”
The net platform continues: “No spikes. No warm-up tracksuits. No restoration instruments. No dignity. This isn’t only a logistical failure; it’s a betrayal of the very athletes who carry our flag on the world stage.
“Let’s be clear: this isn’t a one off. It’s the results of years of negligence and secrecy throughout the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). In 2019, Nigeria signed a equipment sponsorship take care of Puma. However as a substitute of transparency, the contract was buried in secrecy. Solely two officers claimed information of the deal, citing a non-disclosure settlement that excluded even board members.
“They insisted the deal had no financial worth till Puma itself clarified that each one charges had been paid. The kits had been by no means delivered to the AFN Secretary Basic, who, by the federation’s structure, is the official custodian of such agreements.
“Since then, the AFN has didn’t provoke and even focus on new equipment sponsorships. For over 4 years, there was no public dialog, no strategic planning, and no accountability.
“Nigerian athletes have been pressured to clean kits between occasions, borrow gear, or compete with out the fundamental instruments their friends take as a right. It’s worldwide ridicule, and it’s solely avoidable.
“This editorial isn’t just a condemnation; it’s a name to motion. Nigerian athletes deserve higher. They deserve a federation that prioritizes their welfare, that understands the significance of preparation, and that treats them with the respect their expertise instructions. Package sponsorship is just not a luxurious; it’s a necessity. It’s the naked minimal.
“If the AFN can not safe partnerships with world manufacturers like Adidas, Nike, or Puma, if it can not ship kits to its athletes with out drama or diversion, then it have to be restructured. The tradition of secrecy, favoritism, and incompetence should finish. Our athletes are usually not simply rivals; they’re ambassadors. And they need to by no means be made to really feel like beggars on the world stage.
“Tobi Amusan spoke out. Others will comply with. The query now’s: will the AFN pay attention, or will it proceed to fail the very individuals who make Nigerian athletics matter? To stakeholders, the AFN, as presently constituted, is just not outfitted with the personnel to make that change,” SportsNow.com.ng added.
Efforts to talk with high officers of the AFN had been unsuccessful on Friday.
