- Issues Queries To Indicted Athletics Association Staffers
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, Kwara State Sports Commission (KSSC), Bolakale Magaji has promised swift retribution to athletics management staffers who are directly or vicariously responsible for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) sanction on the state.
Magaji disclosed this during a press conference in Ilorin on Monday while also indicating that moves are in top gear to have the AFN review its stance on Kwara.
“We have the future of young athletes to think about and officers responsible for the lapse resulting in the sanction will face the music,” he stated.
AFN placed an indefinite ban on Kwara State Athletics Association, following evidence showing that the association maintained a working relationship with Coach Hammid Muritala who was banned from all athletic events for 10 years.
Coach Muri’s ban followed his admittance of force-feeding a youth athlete with banned substances two years ago in Ilorin.
Rather than stay off athletics activities, Coach Muri reportedly wangled his way into the state’s contingent travelling to Benin for the Golden League Athletics Meet to the consternation of stakeholders.
Explaining why the Sports Commission shouldn’t be blamed, Coach Magaji said Coach Muritala had been on suspension since 14th October 2022, before they received the AFN’s ban notice in February 2023.
He stated that the Commission was not aware that the suspended coach accompanied the state contingent to Benin, Edo State.
”Names of the 10 athletes and a coach were submitted to represent Kwara and coach Muritala was not included.
“The notice of the coach travelling with the athletes came when the Commission’s Secretary, Mr Tsado Haruna, tried to find out about their movement on 12 June 2023.
“Subsequent to the above, I gave the directive to Mr Haruna to issue queries to the Head of Coaching, Patience Lawal, Association Secretary, Kafilat Aliyu, existing coach, Oluwaseyi Awe and the suspended coach, Muritala.
“Their replies to the queries will determine the next line of action,” the chairman said.
On the athletics ban in the state, Magaji said it has not been officially communicated to by AFN on the matter.
He however noted that when the Commission gets informed eventually, it will apologise and show evidence of correspondence to exonerate itself.
Eighteen-Eleven Media