Why Team FCT May Fail At 2019 National Youth Games

FCT Athletes Yet To Resume Camping Few Day To National Youth Games

By Adeola Samson

As the saying goes, to fail to plan is planning to fail and that there is no short cut to success.

Indigenes, residents and sports lovers in the Federal Capital Territory are worried about the non camping of athletes that will represent Team FCT at the oncoming 2019 National Youth Games slated for Ilorin, Kwara state.

While other sports loving states who have over the years put the state's name on global map through sports and now are more focused on emerging overall winners on medals table have been in camp since July, it is disheartening to see that the nation's capital's athletes are yet to be in camp for close camp training in full preparation for the National Youth Games that will commence soon.

In sports, particularly a national games like NYG, there is no doubt that the level of preparedness goes a long way in determining where a team or state will end on medals table.

The Games is scheduled to start on Saturday 7th September and the FCT Administration has not deem it fit to give approval with financial back up for opening of camping at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10.

According to a source, FCT budget was reduced because the Minister, Mohammed Bello returned excess funds back to the treasury. The decision which according to the source have won him Best Minister For The Year on two occasions.

This decision affected allocation of funds to FCT Sports Department in assessing funds as at when due because FCT budget and allocation have been reduced.

Also, the FCT Ministry needs look into making Sports Department an independent body. Putting sports under Social Development Secretariat (SDS) has done more harms than good to the development of sports in FCT.

In other states, sports develop because they can make their budget and assess fund without being under any government parastatal.

Sometimes, when FCT Sports Department is given approval either the Department of Treasury (DoT) or Social Development Secretariat (SDS) is always an hindrance in assessing the funds.

With the situation, as the athletes are yet to resume camp, FCT residents and Nigerians should not expect much from the athletes because there is no short cut to success.