NSC, AFN negligible support to individuals sponsored competitions unsettles stakeholders

…They feel no direct benefit for them- Gombe

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Sports Stakeholders across all sectors have frowned at the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) officials’ nonchallant attitude to Competitions organised and sponsored by individual when invited.

During a media chat, Stakeholders noted that these national sports agencies and their heads hardly attend privately sponsored sports programme when invited.

These views were expressed at the opening ceremony of the 5-day Gombe Inter-secondary School Athletics Championships at Pantami Stadium on Tuesday.

Speaking further, the organiser and sponsors of the Championship Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe regretted that concerned individuals would spend their hard earned funds to organise competitions invite the NSC and AFN officials and they won’t attend.

Aside stakeholders saying they will officially table the matter before NSC and AFN hierarchy, Hon.Gara Gombe maintained that those governing sports at the national level seem not to care about individual sponsorship of sports Competitions because they will not benefit.

Gombe said, “This attitude is not limited to those at the national level, adding that at the State level, it is worse, they won’t even send a representative”.

“How then would the private sector be encouraged to assist in sports sponsorship to help young talents grow in Nigeria, Gombe queries.