Release funds for Rio Olympics preparations now – FCT SWAN urges Buhari

FCT Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action in releasing funds for Nigeria’s preparations towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. FCT SWAN, at its first monthly congress in 2016, said this was necessary and urgent because the country’s athletes are capable of winning medals at the Games if adequately prepared. “FCT SWAN Congress urges President Buhari to urgently release funds for Nigeria’s preparations towards the Rio 2016 Olympics as the country’s athletes are capable of winning medals at the Games, if there is adequate preparation,’’ the sports writing body said in its communique.
 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the congress was held at the weekend in Abuja.
FCT SWAN also appealed to President Buhari to beam his anti-corruption searchlight on the sports sector by investigating how the funds disbursed for the 11th All-Africa Games in Congo were expended.
“The Ministry of Youths and Sports should account for the N2.7 billion released by government last year for the All-Africa Games’ participation and the preparation of athletes for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.’’
In the eight-point communiqué, FCT SWAN also said the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, should present and implement his blueprint for sports development instead of “grandstanding and gallivanting all over the world’’.
 
The sports writing body pointed out that government should have leveraged on the success of Team Nigeria, which was a deliberate, corporate-driven initiative, geared towards generating funds for sports.
It said the now defunct body also ensured then that the money released was used in funding local and foreign training tours for athletes ahead of major international sporting events.
FCT SWAN then urged the Federal Government to explore alternative means, including the National Lottery Fund and Sports Development Fund, to finance sports and augment its budgetary allocations.
“Government should also consider making tax concessions and other generous rebate to corporations which sponsor sports,’’ it said.
FCT SWAN also said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should be lauded for immediately taking action in the wake of Sunday Oliseh’s resignation as Super Eagles Head Coach.
NAN recalls that NFF had contracted Samson Siasia as the Super Eagles stand-in coach for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Egypt.
This was in the wake of the uncertainty which followed Oliseh’s resignation.
“Congress deemed this as a move that will repose confidence and trust in indigenous coaches,’’ FCT SWAN said.
It however flayed the lack of continuity in sports administration and proposed that individuals with prerequisite skills and knowledge be appointed and elected into strategic sports positions.
FCT SWAN further said NFF’s recent move to stop paying match bonuses to all national age-grade teams should be condemned in the strongest term.
“This is capable of discouraging players from giving their best when called up to represent the country,’’ it said.(NAN)

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