AFN VS Okagbare - Okagbare a Disappointment - AFN
Blessing Okagbare's chastisement of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria's recruitment of foreign athletes has ruffled feathers at the Federation and she could be facing disciplinary actions if the words of the AFN's technical director, Omasteye Nesiama are anything to go by.
The Nigerian sprint queen who led the country's 4x200m relay team to gold medal win at last weekend's IAAF World Relay's sensationally accused the AFN top shots of paying more attention to recruited athletes who, according to her, were not better than home grown talents.
Okagbare in her post said the AFN was not being kind to home based athletes. She argued that the monies being paid to the recruited foreign athletes was more than enough to support the local athletes.
"Enough is enough with the short cuts to success. Because our home grown athletes are so better than the ones being recruited,"Okagbare said.
Reacting to her submission yesterday Navy Commodore Nesiama stated that the AFN least expected Okagbare to throw a bombshell considering the fact that she has been one of Nigeria's most 'pampered' athletes.
"I feel embarrassed by her comments. It is totally out of place for her to say such at a time the Federation is supposed to be commended for ensuring that Nigeria and indeed her athletes are able to feature at world-class competitions to prepare them for the World Championships and the Olympics.
"I am most disappointed by her comments and it shows lack of respect for order, structure and authority. It must be placed on record that no athlete is bigger than the Federation and the Federation would deal with the issue appropriately.
"While I acknowledge that the Federation could have made some mistakes in the past, we have since resolved to give serious scrutiny to the process of accepting athletes transfer of allegiance requests by the Technical Committee."
Meanwhile former national heptathlon champion, Patience Itanyi has backed Okagbare's submission. She called on the AFN to follow procedures, if they have to recruit foreign athletes to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. "Why recruiting foreign athletes in first place when we have talents at home and abroad?
"There are bonafide Nigerian born athletes who, with the right conditions can come home and represent the country." she added.
Okagbare in her post said the AFN was not being kind to home based athletes. She argued that the monies being paid to the recruited foreign athletes was more than enough to support the local athletes.
"Enough is enough with the short cuts to success. Because our home grown athletes are so better than the ones being recruited,"Okagbare said.
Reacting to her submission yesterday Navy Commodore Nesiama stated that the AFN least expected Okagbare to throw a bombshell considering the fact that she has been one of Nigeria's most 'pampered' athletes.
"I feel embarrassed by her comments. It is totally out of place for her to say such at a time the Federation is supposed to be commended for ensuring that Nigeria and indeed her athletes are able to feature at world-class competitions to prepare them for the World Championships and the Olympics.
"I am most disappointed by her comments and it shows lack of respect for order, structure and authority. It must be placed on record that no athlete is bigger than the Federation and the Federation would deal with the issue appropriately.
"While I acknowledge that the Federation could have made some mistakes in the past, we have since resolved to give serious scrutiny to the process of accepting athletes transfer of allegiance requests by the Technical Committee."
Meanwhile former national heptathlon champion, Patience Itanyi has backed Okagbare's submission. She called on the AFN to follow procedures, if they have to recruit foreign athletes to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. "Why recruiting foreign athletes in first place when we have talents at home and abroad?
"There are bonafide Nigerian born athletes who, with the right conditions can come home and represent the country." she added.
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