ABEOKUTA– Wrestlers who were billed to represent Ogun state at the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to commence on the 16th of may, 2025 may allegedly lose their participation to ‘imported machineries’, The News Ville gathered
Sources close to the sports council revealed that the President of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria, Sunday Odebode, who has been employed as a contract recruitment officer, is allegedly set to submit the names of wrestlers to the state without consulting the coaching crew.
One of the wrestlers who spoke with The News Ville on condition of anonymity expressed disappointment and concern that excluding them from the event would be discouraging.
“We are confident in our abilities and have been preparing for months.
“It’s unfair to exclude us from the festival, especially when we have a proven track record of winning medals for Ogun State.
“We urge the commissioner to support us and ensure the progress of wrestling in our state”.
Recalled that the Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun had stated that the state would adopt and nurture outstanding athletes from the state during the festival.
Abiodun who spoke during a parley with journalists in Abeokuta, emphasised that, just as the state supported the dreams of Commonwealth Games champion and world record holder Tobi Amusan, it will continue to support its athletes in their quest to become world beaters in their respective sports.
“We recognise that the NSF is a talent hunt platform, and in Ogun State, we are committed to identifying and nurturing talents to become world beaters.
“The Gateway State has produced several world-class athletes, and we will continue this tradition to produce more champions like Amusan for the country and the world at large,” he said.
The development in the Wrestling camp, according to stakeholders who spoke with our reporter may however negate the governor’s stance of using home grown talents as a pool to draw up national champions for future competition.
