President of Nigerian Wrestling Federation NWF, Champion Daniel Igali has urged sports enthusiasts in the country to hold the Ministry of Sports Development responsible for the country woes in international meets just has he declared that he would not be seeking reelection as Federation’s boss next year.
The Canadian Olympic gold Medalist noted that his decision was because of lack of Government support ever since he was elected as the Federation leader 12 years ago.
“I am not contesting for Presidency of Wrestling Federation. This is my final term as President,” Daniel Igali told journalists at 8th National Youth Games in Asaba.
” I served as Federation President for 12 years and I was not given 50 Kobo all through the 12 years.”
Under Igali’s leadership Nigeria produced world class wrestlers like Blessing Oborodudu and Odunayo Adekuroye.
Addressing members of the press in Asaba on Wednesday at the Nigeria Youth Games, Igali told newsmen that “Sports ministry should be held responsible for athletes not able to excel at international meets.
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh on returning from the Olympics has chided the federation Presidents as been the cog in the wheel of progress derailing the progress of the country in international meets.
Team Nigeria returned empty handed from Paris Olympics after expending N9bn on the game.
But Igali who also double as the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Sports in a veil reference to the Minister in an emphatic manner declared that “ my federation has not collected 50 kobo from government for the past 12 years”.
According to him, the Sports Ministry should be solely responsible for the failure of the country in international meets especially the Olympics, Commonwealth games, All Africa Games and others.
He also disclosed that he will not contest for the presidency of the Federation when his present term expires with federation election slated for next year.
The former Olympic gold medalist whose tenure has witnessed massive turn around for the sports in the country stated that “he’s about to complete his third tenure as President of the Federation and it’s time for him to bow out and give another person opportunity to contribute his or her own quota towards the further development of the game.
”I want to state it here that am about completing my third tenure as President of Wrestling Federation and I’m not planning to have another shot at the position. I think I’ve done my part and it’s time for another person to steer the ship”, he said.
“Nigeria’s poor performance in the Olympics was an embarrassment to the country and respective federations,” Igali acknowledged. “It’s time for the government to take sports development seriously, abandoning the fire-brigade approach that has hindered our progress.”
