Some of the Benue State athletes
Benue State Athletics Association has raised serious concerns over the absence of critical sports facilities, inadequate training equipment and what it described as prolonged neglect by relevant Benue State Government authorities.
Chairman of the association, Mr. Agada Austine, while lamenting the situation, said the challenges are coming at a critical time when athletes are preparing for the Para-Games scheduled to hold in March.
According to him, the lack of basic infrastructure and motivation is crippling preparations and forcing many talented athletes to leave the state in search of better opportunities elsewhere.
“We are preparing for the Para-Games coming up in March this year but there are numerous challenges that are confronting us like, the training facilities which need to be put in place, and shortage of training equipment. No tracks, as a thrower that I am, no facility for it, no kits. There should be closed camps for the athletes and most especially, monetary motivations which are the reasons Benue State is losing a lot of potential athletes to other states searching for greener pastures because there is no zeal to compete.”
Agada said representing Benue State remains a source of pride for members of the association, stressing that athletes are eager to compete for their home state if the challenges confronting them are addressed.
“We have worked so hard and are motivated by self passion. We started here in the state but because there is no motivation, some of us decided to compete for other states. It is pertinent to state here that, we members of this association have tried seeing the commissioner for sports a couple of times and have written letters for audience with him but surprisingly, no one has come to address us even as we speak, has not deemed it fit to address us, the athletes at the sports council and this is very wrong.
“As a youth and sports Commissioner, without sports that ministry will not be complete. We have written out request and documented it but no one to submit it to.”
The association chairman further appealed to the Benue State Government to ensure timely approval and release of funds for sporting events, noting that delays have continued to embarrass the state at national competitions.
He cited the last National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta, where Benue’s contingent reportedly arrived late, resulting in only one athlete representing the state during the march past.
Lamenting the aftermath of the festival, Agada said the athletes who won medals were never recognised or appreciated by the state government.
“when we returned from the last NSF in Abeokuta where we won medals, nothing was done about it up to appreciate us by the state even as we speak and this is enough to demoralize the spirit of the athletes who won medals for the state. At least, we should have been hosted, given awards and told well done for representing the state well in spite of the challenges that we faced, ranging from inadequate preparations due to lack of training pitches, financial backing and the late arrival to Abeokuta because it is not easy to leave your family behind to another state, for up to two weeks.”
He also urged the government to show greater interest in sports development, particularly ahead of national competitions, stressing that direct engagement with athletes would significantly boost morale and performance.
Agada further linked the rising insecurity in the country to poor youth engagement, insisting that active involvement in sports would discourage young people from engaging in violence.
Expressing deep concern over continued neglect, he recalled that Benue athletes were absent at the 3rd Para-Championship hosted in Lagos last December.
“Last December, 3rd para- Championship was hosted in Lagos, but Benue State athletes were not represented and the was reason was simply that the proposal submitted was not given due attention. For how long shall we continue to face this?
“All we are saying is that, we have the energy and all it takes to compete with athletes in other states, what we are crying for is better welfare and support and we will equally make ourselves available.
“Some athletes trek from North bank, Yaikyo, Gyado Villa, how will you expect such an athlete to perform well when he or she has exhausted their energy on the way trekking. This state has surpassed that stage. It is unfair.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the Benue State Commissioner for Sports and Creativity, Hon. Isaac Tiza, were unsuccessful, as he neither picked calls nor replied to text messages sent to him on the matter.
