All Africa Games: We’re not motivated, Nigeria weightlifters cry out

If feelers’ coming from the weightlifting camp of the Nigeria team preparing for the All Africa Games is anything to go by, then Nigeria may be heading for a poor outing at the Games as the athletes seem not to be in a happy mood.

Mariam Usman of Nigeria competes in the women’s +75kg group A weightlifting event at the Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics Gymnasium at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Captain of the squad, Yinka Ayenuwa speaking on behalf of the athletes, expressed total disgust with the manner they were being treated ahead of the continent’s most glamorous sporting fiesta. He said the action of the commission so far is capable of demoralizing them.

He lamented that the reduction of their daily allowance from the  two thousand Naira they were always paid during camping for major championships to one thousand Naira by the current leadership of the National Sports Commission was capable of demoralising the athletes.

“You know sports in Nigeria is just like individual efforts from the athletes. Before the last All Africa Games and some other championships,  they were paying us two thousand Naira per day but this time around we are preparing for another All Africa Games, they are giving us N1,000(One Thousand Naira per day). Are not motivating us or they are demoralizing us?

Nevertheless, I am not looking at the allowance of a thing, let me just go there and watch first and then I will tell the country my mind and I will tell my mind to the National sports commission,”