… Say Osun Sports Sector On The Brink Of Collapse
…. As Coaches Run Into Debt While Financing Competitions
Staff and Athletes in the Osun State Sports Council have called for the resignation of the state Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi as the Commissioner for Sports.
The call follows some allegations levelled against him which according to them is affecting sports sector in the state and placing it on the brink of collapse.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that since Adewusi’s emergence as the Commissioner for sports, Osun’s profile on the national stage is reportedly in a state of disrepair, with many attributing the rot to underfunding by the Adeleke’s administration.
Earlier, the Deputy Governor was accused of sabotaging sports in the state due to his inability to pass some files relating to sports development to his boss, Governor Ademola Adeleke for approval.
He was also accused of deducting athletes allowances.
Multiple sources within the Sports Council, told OSUN DEFENDER that the council is struggling under a mountain of debt, with its staff frustrated and disillusioned.
One of the sources who craved anonymity while speaking with the medium on Monday said: “We are walking with our heads bowed because of the debt we have been left to pay. Our superiors are scared to speak out. When stories about this rot are published, the ministry pays writers to deny these allegations. But the truth remains—we are in crisis.”
Another source recounted his struggle to fund athletes’ participation in competitions, saying that, “I had no choice but to borrow money, hoping the funds approved by the government would be released. As I speak, we haven’t received a dime for an event we attended over six months ago.
“The files for these events were allegedly submitted to the Deputy Governor, but they’ve been sitting on his desk. Until he submits them to the governor, no funds are released.”
“This bureaucratic delay is affecting athletes and coaches alike. Most of the time, no funding is received because our proposals never leave the Deputy Governor’s office.
“We are forced to scrape together money from any source just to pay athletes’ allowances,” lamented another official.
OSUN DEFENDER learnt that
lack of preparation and support is already taking its toll on performance of some athletes. The Osun’s Volleyball team, which was supposed to participate in the 2024 National Division 2 Volleyball League in Umuahia, missed the event due to lack of funds.
Similarly, it was learnt that the state’s basketball team had to embark on a self-sponsored trip to Ibadan for the National Southwest Basketball Championship.
These, according to Investigation are just a few examples of the many teams left abandoned by the Sports Ministry.
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Despite these challenges, the workers stressed that the Deputy Governor remains in his position, seemingly unbothered by the plight of Osun State athletes.
One of the Sports Council Coaches told OSUN DEFENDER that, “It is clear that sports in our state are being killed by neglect, and those of us who speak out are met with denials and counter-narratives funded by the Ministry to suppress the truth.
“Our athletes who have won medals are not being recognized, and our teams that have done well in national championships are ignored. We are losing talent because the files meant for the governor’s approval are gathering dust on the commissioner’s table.”
As the National Sports Festival Zonal Elimination Playoffs approach in November, the situation, according to coaches looks grim.
“How can we expect to win medals when our athletes are barely prepared? It’s the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, who is killing sports in Osun State,” a coach said.
The cries for help from athletes, coaches, and staff alike are growing louder. They are calling on the Governor, Senator Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, to intervene and rescue the sports sector from the stranglehold of inefficiency and neglect. “Enough is enough. If the Deputy Governor cannot help us, he should leave us the way he met us,” the coaches and athletes plead.
According to them, “Governor Adeleke, as the leader of Osun State, to rescue the Sports Ministry from the hands of those who have no interest in its growth. If the Deputy Governor cannot fulfill his duties, we respectfully request that he step aside and allow someone more dedicated to take charge.
“The future of Osun State sports is at stake, and without your intervention, we risk losing everything. As a known advocate for youth empowerment and development, the Governor must act swiftly to address the sports sector’s woes.
“The people of Osun State are counting on him to restore hope, dignity, and a sense of purpose to a ministry that has been left to crumble. The future of Osun’s athletes, its sports legacy, and the state’s reputation are at stake.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
