Africa Games: Team Nigeria grumbles over kitting, allowances

As the All Africa Games hots up in Rabat Morocco, Nigerian athletes are poised for a showdown with the officials over what they described as poor kitting and unbefitting allowances being paid them.

An athlete told Sportingtribune on Thursday that the kits given to them were of poor quality compared to what they paraded during the last games in Congo Brazaville.

‘’It is embarrassing these kits, we should be moving forward, they are not even as comfortable as those we had four years ago in Congo,” he said.

The athlete added that a ‘paltry’ 100 dollars per day are being paid as allowance while the officials collect between 5,000 dollars to 7,000 dollars.

“It is rather unfortunate, if the team is broke, we understand that but when we confirmed that about 40 ministry staff apart from the federation secretaries are collecting between 5,000 and 7,000 dollars per day, our morale is bound to suffer.’’

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He revealed further: ‘’I am informing you in advance so that when Nigerians read that we boycott some of our events they know where to point fingers.’’

President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel and the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola could not be reached for comments but Athletes’ Representatives, Olumide Oyedeji, said such talks were common at early stages of championship.

‘’I am here to protect the interest of the athletes and none of them has made any complaint. As far as I am concerned Team Nigeria remains focused to win laurels for the country,” he promised.