DOHA Fallout: Minister of Sports Inaugurates 9-man Committee, Gives Them 7-day Ultimatum

IAAF:Sports Minister Inagurates Committee To unravel Athletes's Poor Performance In DOHA

By Niyi Busari

In his determination to appraise the causes and factors responsible for the abysmal performance of the Team Nigeria of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria at the just concluded 2019 World Athletics Championship held in Doha, Qatar from September 26 – October 6, 2019 the  Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Sunday Dare  on Monday  inaugurated 9-man committee to unravel the misery behind the poor performance of Nigerian athletes.

Committee which include: Prof. Ken Anugweje  as Chairman; Dr. Umar Bindir Member; Mr. Rotimi Obajimi Member;  Alh. Ibrahim Galadima Member; Mr. Dare Esan Member;  Amb. Mary Onyali Member;  Chief Falilat Ogunkoya Member and Mrs. Maria Wophill Member/Secretary are carefully selected to unravel the disappointing outing and also proffer solution to prevent repeating itself on future .

Speaking  during the inauguration inside MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja the  honourable minister said the concern of the Ministry on the less than impressive performance of athletes of the Team Nigeria at the Doha.

According to him, "The concern of the Ministry on the performance of the AFN athletes is underscored by the fact that the Team Nigeria of the AFN at the 12th Africa Games held in Morocco in August 16-31, 2019 led the Athletics Medal Table with 23 medals comprising 10 Gold, 7 Silver and 6 Bronze.

"Kenya occupied the 2nd Position with a total of 20 medals comprising 10
Gold, 7 Silver and 3 Bronze. However at the Doha World Athletics Championship, Kenya came 2nd in the overall medal table and 1st Position in Africa with a total of 11 medals while Nigerian achieved a distant 9th Position to Kenya with a win of only a Bronze.

"The countries of Ethiopia, Uganda, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco and Namibia all came above Nigeria in Africa. Hence the logical question to ask is, was the performance of our athletes at the 12th AG, fluke?

"There were arguments and counter arguments of indiscipline and headiness. However, there can be no fire without smoke. Your Committee is therefore to unearth the smoke that billowed to the fire of indiscipline that deprived the nation of its enviable position at the 2019 World Athletics Champion."

Giving the committee task,  Mr Dare said "your assignment is indeed tasking and very daunting. Nigerians and indeed the sports community are looking forward to your Committee of wise men to unravel the “facts, figures and falsehoods” of the lackluster
performance at the Doha. You are also saddled with the responsibility to unravel the events that led to the disqualification of two promising athletes of the AFN and the response to the enquiry of the Ministry on same.

"For all these responsibilities, your Committee has only one week within which you are expected to turn in your report. This is not unsurmountable, noting that a number of members of this Committee were there in Doha. Their experiences and firsthand information obtained will greatly assist your assignment.

"The main challenge to us as a Ministry and as a nation is on mitigating the unpleasant experiences of Doha in order to avoid future reoccurrences. Accordingly, your Committee has been assigned the following Terms of Reference: To evaluate the factors responsible for the less than impressive performance of Nigeria’s athletes at the recently concluded World Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar.

" Also, to evaluate the remote and immediate factors responsible for the avoidable disqualification of Blessing Okagbare and Divine Oduduru. To evaluate and advise on the response of the Technical Director of the AFN, Mr. Sunday Adeleye to the query issued to him.

"Establish outstanding claims to Athletes and Officials from Doha 2019. Identify and report on the roles of the IAAF in the hosting of the Championship to Athletes and Officials. Make recommendations that would ensure improved performance of Nigeria’s Athletes at major Championships. and To Make any other recommendations as may be deemed fit."

He,  therefore gave the committee 7 days ultimatum to finish their findings.

In his remarks, the  Chairman of the Committee Prof. Ken Anugweje, Promised that the committee will  discharged their duty solemy, not to be impatial  and  passionate in carry out this assignment given to them.