Blessing Okagbare
Former Vice-President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Elias Gora says Blessing Okagabre’s recent condemnation of the neglect of grassroots sports in the country is not far from the truth, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Gora, a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, told NAN on Friday that an athlete of Okagbare’s calibre should be taken seriously.
Okagabre c accused the AFN of registering foreign-based athletes for major competitions while neglecting the home lads.
She alleged that federation was not paying enough attention to grassroots developmental programmes.
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games 100m and 200m winner warned AFN’s reliance on foreign-based athletes would retard the development of grassroots athletics in the country.
Gora said, “She has everything going for her as an elite athlete, she has seen it all.
“So if she says something about grassroots development, then I think it’s important the authorities take her seriously.
“She has nothing to lose if she stays silent, it does not affect her in any way.
“It shows that she is passionate about the development of grassroots sports in this country.
“The earlier they listen to her the better, and they should consider themselves lucky to have an athlete like her.
“A lack of attention to grassroots has been the hindrance to our development, I agree with her 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, the AFN has queried to Okagbare over her comments.
The AFN Technical Director Omatseye Nesiama said the US-based sprinter’s allegation was baseless and aimed at tarnishing the image of the federation.
“I have directed that the AFN Secretary General issue her a query immediately,” NAN quoted him as saying.
He, debunked allegations made by Okagbare that the athletes selected the team that won the 4x200m women category in Bahamas IAAF/BTC World Relays.
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