By Akeem Lawal
From all indications, World
Wrestling silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye; Commonwealth Games gold
medalist, Aminat Adeniyi, three-time African champion, John Emmanuel and other
athletes from Ondo State may not be representing the Sunshine State at the forth
coming Governor Dickson National Wrestling Classics billed to hold in Yenegoa,
Bayelsa State between 15th and 30th June, 2019, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports.
The Head Coach of Ondo State
Wrestling team, Akuh Purity informed Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com that the
government have not shown concern towards the wrestlers and are not ready to
sponsor the team, which left them with no other option than to pitch their tent
with the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM) team.
Other Ondo State medal
hopefuls that will join the MFM team also include African champions, Bisola
Makanjuola and Sunmisola Balogun; Commonwealth bronze medalist, Bose Samuel;
Africa cadet champions, Esther Kolawole and Mercy Adekuoroye.
“Ondo state is not ready for
the Governor Dickson Wrestling Classics. So we are trying to solidify with MFM
team because we are not sure if the state will sponsor us.
“MFM wrestlers are sponsored
by MFM and the Ondo State wrestlers among them have have not been paid
allowance by the state since last year up till this minute. I cannot say
because I am a staff, collecting my salary every month and decide not to see to
the plight of the tools I’m using. So I’ve decided to go with them. We will be
attending the Governor Dickson Classics as MFM team.
"Remember Ondo State
was at the bottom at the last National Sports Festival before wrestling team
competed and brought the state to the 9th position. All of us have decided to
shift our base to where we will get the support.
“All the international
competitions Odunayo has been attending, to the extent of being ranked No. 4 in
the World, Ondo State have not supported her. All her international trips have
been sponsored by MFM with support from the Honourable Daniel Igali led Nigeria
Wrestling Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. So why will she not
represent MFM at the Dickson Classics.
“When Blessing Okagbare was
at Odunayo’s age, it was the then Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan that gave her that support
before she could became what she is today. We have two-time Commonwealth
champion Aminat (Adeniyi); the only male wrestler that won gold at the last
African Championship, Emmanuel (John); youngest African Champion Sunmisola
(Balogun) and so on in this state and the government is not giving them the
support,” Purity, who is also the national female coach told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.
No fewer than 500 athletes
and officials from different states and wrestling clubs around the country are
expected in Yenagoa for the Classics which will also be used to select athletes
that will represent Nigeria at the 12th All-Africa games in Morocco and the
2019 World Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan in September.
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