Asaba 2024: Knocks As Osun Team Fails To Win Gold At National Youth Games

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The 8th National Youth Games, held in Asaba from September 9 to 19, 2024, concluded with Team Osun finishing at the bottom of the medal table, failing to secure any gold medals.

This disappointing outcome has sparked significant backlash against Governor Ademola Adeleke and his administration, particularly concerning the alleged neglect of athletes from Osun State.

Team Delta dominated the competition, securing a total of 98 medals, including 41 golds.

In stark contrast, Team Osun managed only five medals—three silver and two bronze—placing them 29th overall. This lackluster performance has raised questions about the state government’s commitment to supporting its athletes.

Commenting on the poor outing, a sports enthusiast, Basiru Olagunju, condemned the state government, especially the state deputy governor who doubles as Commissioner for Sports, Mr Kola Adewusi, for starving the participants from Osun the needed resources and tools to make them excel at this year’s Games.

According to Olagunju, “I know a couple of the Osun athletes from a close range. I know the level of commitment they put into training and preparing for the sports festival, but unfortunately, the state government failed them at the point of need.

“I learnt some of the athletes were given N500 feeding allowance per day. That was ridiculous. Anyway, it is what the state courted they got. If you fail to plan, you have definitely planned to fail. I wish the innocent athletes and trainers all the best in future.”

A resident, Omolola Abioye while reacting to the team performance in a Facebook post wrote, “It’s so unfortunate. I don’t know what the deputy governor is doing as the Commissioner for Sports. That position should be occupied by a competent person. That man has not improved anything sports in my state.  The same way Osun United failed to get promotion under him”.

Another residents, Isaac Emmanuel, called out both the governor and his deputy, saying that the ministry should not be politicised.

“People are complaining about the deputy governor as the Commissioner overseeing the sports ministry but the governor is backing him. Everything is not politics. If he is not capable, appoint another person there”, he wrote.

Meanwhile, of the N6.3bn allocated to both ministry of youth affairs and ministry of sports in the 2024 budget of the state, only N661m, representing merely 13.5% of the 2024 estimate, had been released as of June ( half of the year).

In response to the outcry, the Osun State Sports Council defended its actions, stating that budget adjustments were necessary due to financial constraints faced by the state.

The council emphasized that these changes were made to accommodate a larger number of athletes participating in national competitions.

Governor Adeleke has faced scrutiny not only for the poor performance of Team Osun but also for prioritizing other expenditures over sports development.

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Critics point to his administration’s allocation of N30 billion for his office in less than two years while only releasing N661 million—about 13.5% of the allocated budget—for youth and sports programs as of June 2024.

As public dissatisfaction grows, many are calling for a reevaluation of the state’s approach to sports funding and athlete support. The fallout from this year’s National Youth Games serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved governance and investment in youth development programs in Osun State.

Aside that, Osun Defender had on January 2024 reported how some coaches with the Osun State Sports Council have appealed to Governor Adeleke and his Deputy to save their souls over poor renumeration.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that most of the coaches are contract staff and were living in abject poverty as their salary could not take care of their basic needs.

The medium gathered that since January 2012, contract coaches were placed on N15,000 salary while contract athletes were earning N12,000, which is the lowest in the South-West.

In Lagos and Oyo states, contract coaches earn N40,000 while contract athletes receive N30,000 as salary, according to findings.

The poor renumeration, according to some of the coaches who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, is affecting the morale and performance of the athletes.

It was learnt that in a sport with three coaches, the sum of N30,000 would be shared among them as remuneration.

Findings also revealed that only two players in a team sport like Volleyball and Tennis are being paid the N12,000.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that out of 30 sports in the state, only football is being given priority by the General Manager.

Findings revealed that most of the sports in the state have no regular coach. Only Volleyball has a substantive coach who is a civil servant.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, one of the contract coaches who does not want his name in print said: “The amount contract coaches and athletes are being paid in Osun State is appalling. For 12 years now, contract coaches are earning N15,000 while an athlete is being paid N12,000.

“This will induce fraud and extortion in to the system. It will also encourage coaches to go to individuals to solicit for money when they are short paid.

“The poor remuneration has also induced player migration from Osun State to oil producing states.

“A coach in Osun United earn N15,000 while the players earn N50,000, how do you expect seriousness in such team. Majority of things in the stadium are being done by the coaches.

“The government has not done much for the Sports Council. The only thing they get from the government is two balls for a year. The focus of the government is only on Osun United and Osun Babes. All other sports are not getting the necessary attention.

“There’s no budget for other sports in the state aside football. And we have about 28 Sports in the state.”

Stakeholders in the sport sector has also called for recruitment of more coaches across board and the need for timely program, seminar and training for coaches at the sports council.

The stakeholders specifically urged the state government to recruit more female coaches to train female athletes so as to avert sexual harassment.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Director of Coaching at the Osun Sports Council, Mr Demola Daini, said the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, was committed to addressing the challenges confronting the sport council.

Daini noted that the government has sent contractors to inspect facilities in the stadium, adding that there is enough provision for sports in the 2024 budget.