Sabina Chikere, the Permanent Secretary in charge of Edo Sports Commission has called for a review of the criteria for awarding the hosting rights of a National Sports Festival (NSF).
Chikere, who made the call in Asaba on the sidelines of the 21st National Sports Festival (NSF), said so many things were wrong with “Delta 2022” that came to a close on Saturday.
At the close of the 21st NSF, Ogun emerged as the next host of the sports festival, their second hosting after their first in 2006.
Chikere, expressed dissatisfaction with the logistics arrangement at the festival, noting that the Edo sports authorities were not comfortable with where their contingent was kept.
“The tournament is just a charade. A lot of things are not just right. I am sure that, as you are coming in from the gate, you can see it for yourself. You really don’t need anybody to tell you what all this is about.
“From the gate up to this place, you can see where we are all kept. You can see the environment. You can see everything. We came in here. As we speak now, there is no light. That is how we stay most of the time.
“But we give the glory at least, that we have come this far. We can now only hope for the best,” Chikere said.
She added that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development needed to insist on putting in place certain rules and regulations.
”The Ministry needs to make sure that whichever state is hosting has a guide on what is expected. It should be able to give guidelines on what they expect from the hosting state.
”The Ministry should make sure the state meets up with the requirements so that, at the end of the day, there will be a semblance of a National Sports Festival,” the Permanent Secretary said.
On the performance of Edo at the festival, Chikere assured that the state’s athletes would strive in line with the promises made to the people of Edo.
“So far so good. We are hoping for the best like we promised our Edo people before we left. We are doing our best to be part of those at the top of the table, and we are working towards it.
“The games are still on and it is not over until it is over. There is still hope. We will put up a very good performance,” the Edo sports commission official said.
Meanwhile, announcing Ogun State as the next of the NSF, Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare disclosed that for the first time the competition’s hosting right would have a first runner-up in Oyo State.
He explained that the essence of placing a willing state on stand-by was to make them ready in case the earlier chosen state failed to meet up.
Dare said five states put in the bid to host the 22nd edition of the festival billed for 2024.
