…says Dalung lacks capacity to administer sport
Former Gombe State Football Association Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, has opened up on Team Nigeria’s chances of winning medals at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia and says he foresees a disastrous outing.
He told The Point that there were no adequate training plans for the athletes who will don Nigeria’s colours at the competition and added that only a miracle will turn the tide and save the team from a poor show.
Gara-Gombe stressed that some Federations who are going to provide athletes for the country at the Games are yet to recover from the aftermath of the controversial Board elections that brought them to power, while some are still struggling for leadership supremacy.
“It is only a miracle that can save Team Nigeria from not performing well at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, because there is a lot of noise and distraction for the athletes. It is only a few games like table tennis where Funke Oshonaike and co are holding sway that some tangible medals may be won.
“Any other medals may come from those athletes who have trained hard on their own volition and not because of the support they will get from the sport ministry.
“Take a look at what is happening at the Nigeria Basketball Federation where we have two leaders claiming the leadership of the Board. It is a shame!
“Are we going to present two national teams because the situation is tilting towards that” Gara-Gombe queried.
“I want to blame the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung for this unwholesome situation we have found ourselves because he is bereft of ideas on how to take sports development in the country to the next level.
“Dalung conducted the worst elections in Nigeria’s history into the Boards of National Federations because there was a lot of confusion and bad blood which he introduced during the process.
“I’m sure Dalung does not have any meaningful plans for Team Nigeria ahead of the Commonwealth Games and don’t be surprised very soon you will start hearing that there are no funds released for the prosecution of the Games in Australia,” he said.
Gara-Gombe took a further swipe on Dalung saying he deserves a gold medal in corruption because he’s crafty and very ignorant.
“Can you imagine that Dalung constituted the NFF Constitution Review Committee headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima and they did a fantastic job and prepared a fantastic document that was aimed at reforming Nigerian football but he refused to receive the report? The administrators in NFF went behind and forced Dalung to compromise on their decision and he refused to receive the report. Till today Dalung is still saying there were no funds to receive the report.
“I learnt that he was to refund the committee the sum of N3m which covers the committee’s expenses for their sitting allowance.
“Where did Dalung get the money he used to receive Godwin Kienka’s Sports Reform Committee report? That committee had Mary Onyeali-Omagbemi and Sam Amedu as members. At the end he hosted a big dinner party for them and received their report at the detriment of Galadima’s committee,” Gara-Gombe stated with a tinge of regret.
Meanwhile, Dalung stepped up Team Nigeria’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games with the reconstitution of Nigeria House Project Committee and inaugurated them last Thursday in Abuja.
At the inauguration which took place at the Minister’s conference room, Dalung charged the committee members to ensure that Nigeria is well represented at major International Games including the Olympics, Commonwealth, All Africa Games and the FIFA World Cup.
“The Nigeria House Project Committee is set up to establish a hospitality outfit for Nigeria and indeed other African nations to showcase our rich potentials in any country hosting a major sports fiesta.
“They will be responsible for making sure the image of the country is presented in the right perspective, using various resources of
the state at their disposal including culture, economic opportunities and tourism.
“During such games, these patriots will work to create a presence for their country to attract foreign investors by showcasing the possibilities and potentials in the country.”
The Minister thanked the 8-member committee for their voluntary decision to serve in that capacity thereby demystifying the notion that nothing can be achieved in sports without money.
“I have no fear or doubt that you will accomplish this task and that Nigerians will be proud of the project.
“The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that you succeed and will spare no expense to facilitate your success to deliver to Nigerians, a befitting outing at the Commonwealth Games, the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairmen of the Nigeria House Project Committee, Mr Ifedayo Akindoju thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in the committee, promising to succeed.
The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida is the Vice chairman of the committee while other members include Bolcit Patience Barshep as Secretary/member, Mallam Ibrahim A. Abdul as Assistant Secretary, President of the Nigeria Gymnastics Federation Kelvin Erhunwmuse, Hon Margaret Nzumbato, Tonobok Ojuru Okowa while Mohammed Baba Abdullahi is the Consultant/Coordinator.
The Nigeria House Project is a Public Private Partnership concept between the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Nigeria Olympic Committee and MOBAB Consult Limited, which is a
private management and marketing firm.
