Imo Football tourney: Okorocha stops payment of registration fees

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha’s order came on the heels of a public outcry against the payment of N20,000 fee as directed by the Ministry of Youths and Sports. Mr Eze Ude, the Chief Executive Officer of Kreation Sports Concept, a sports management outfit which is organising the event in conjunction […]

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha’s order came on the heels of a public outcry against the payment of N20,000 fee as directed by the Ministry of Youths and Sports.

Mr Eze Ude, the Chief Executive Officer of Kreation Sports Concept, a sports management outfit which is organising the event in conjunction with the ministry, said that at least 600 communities would be involved.

Ude told NAN on Thursday that no less than 150 communities had already paid and registered for the month-long tournament slated to commence by the end of October.

Commenting on the negative public reaction, one of the governor’s aide told NAN, on condition of anonymity, that “the fee did not receive the governor’s blessing.

“There is no way the governor would approve such a proposal for communities to pay N20,000 before they can participate in a tournament being organised by the state government.

“The governor did not only order the commissioner to stop the unwarranted fee, he also ordered him to immediately refund communities that have paid.

He explained that the tournament was being organised as part of the strategies by the administration for talent hunt to give “our footballers in the communities the opportunity to showcase their talents. (NAN)