Top Nigerian home-based athletes have called on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Sports Ministry to avoid discriminatory payments of training grants as this could cause disaffection within the Nigerian camp in future international outings.
Ahead of the World Championships in Oregon, USA and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham recently, a $5,000 grant was paid to all the foreign-based athletes, but the few home-based who made the team did not get a dime.
However, out of cheer benevolence and team spirit the foreign-based athletes donated a thousand dollar each from their grants and home-based athletes were able to take home about $1,700 each. Though three of the foreign-based refused to participate in this show of goodwill the home-based athletes were appreciative of their colleagues generosity, but were unimpressed by the attitude of the AFN towards contributions.
One of the home-based athletes who participated in the Commonwealth Games said what the AFN and the sports ministry did was capable of destroying the camaraderie in the team adding that such practice must be stopped.
“How many were we the home-based that the AFN could not give grants?
“This is not good enough, we all athletes representing Nigeria and there shouldn’t be any form of discriminatory payment of grants. “We are all doing the same training and having the same goal of making the nation proud in those outings,” said the athlete.
In the past all potential medal winners were paid training grants whether they were based home or abroad were not a yardstick. But the AFN president Tonobok Okowa has openly made known his intention of prioritising foreign-based athletes. He urged the home-based to strive harder and find their way abroad and perform world standard times, if they hope to get training grants.
Wonder Woman...Tobi Amusan one of the foreign-based who donated to help the home-based.