Nigeria badminton’s moment of shame

It is an open secret that most sports federations short-change their athletes when provided with funds to organize tournaments. Usually, sports federations come up with irresistible proposals for corporate organizations and the government to help sponsor their activities. Most times, once such money is released, it hardly serves the purpose for which it was approved. […]

It is an open secret that most sports federations short-change their athletes when provided with funds to organize tournaments. Usually, sports federations come up with irresistible proposals for corporate organizations and the government to help sponsor their activities. Most times, once such money is released, it hardly serves the purpose for which it was approved.

Instances abound of championships which got sponsorship money running into millions but ended without prize money to winners. What such organizers do is to bring together the competitors with their accompanying officials, lodge them in dehumanizing accommodations, provide sub-standard feeding and then use the short changed athletes and officials to retire the money released.

At times, participants and their officials go the extra mile by threatening showdown with organizers of tournaments to get their demands met, even if not satisfactorily. When such situations arise, the unscrupulous organizers are forced to bring out part of the ‘loot’ to calm flared nerves.

It is for this reason that most Nigerian athletes, especially the ones in the elite category are never eager to attend some of the national championships. They do not see any sense in attending a championship where organization would be anything but standard and in the end, they would not get anything for time and energy expended.

What happened in Abuja early this week between the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and the players who stormed city to take part in the 3rd edition of the National Open Badminton Championship had a whiff of the ‘short-changing game’.

Players and officials’ silent revolt bothering on alleged embezzlement of funds prevented the 3rd National Open Badminton Championship from serving off two days after the scheduled date.

The Championship which is being sponsored by the Federal Capital Territory was scheduled to begin on 24th of September and end on the 29th but that did not happen because the players decided to down their rackets until issues bothering on accommodation and prize money were sorted out.

Shot! gathered from some of the protesting players who pleaded anonymity that they were being accommodated at the Old Parade ground hostels, an accommodation not befitting enough.

They maintained that they would rather return to their respective States, if the situation was not addressed immediately.

Unconfirmed report from an official from one of the participating states has it that over N8 million was made available for the organization of the championship. The official said the accommodation provided for them was not befitting and to make matters worse, the body language coming from the organizers was pointing in the direction of no prize money.

However, in his reaction, the immediate past President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Dr. Adesoji Adegbomire, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Federation, confirmed that there were challenges but was fast to add that the situation has been dealt with.

“There are some logistic problems. We have just resolved them now”, he said after an emergency meeting that was held at the Abuja national stadium venue of the championship.

“We have dealt with the accommodation problem of the athletes mainly. We have made an arrangement for them and it will be possible when they go back to the hostels tonight”

“The courts will be marked and the athletes will resume training 4pm tonight.”

Eventually, the agitated players and officials were moved from the Old Parade ground hostel to the FIFA goal project camp which is said to be of almost the same standard with the old parade ground hostels.

Nigeria number two badminton player, Ebenezer Ola Fagbemi said he was not satisfied with the standard of the accommodation provided saying it falls far below his expectations.

He also decried the amount being mooted as the cash prize for the eventual winners as he maintained that it was too small for a national championship.

“The rating of this tournament is a bit low when talking about prize money. This is because it is the prize money that will motivate the players. I heard it is N100,000 but I have not confirmed yet. The one we played in Ilorin last month was N200,000 even as it was not a national championship.

“In addition, the accommodation provided for us is not befitting. We were at the old parade ground from where we have been moved to the FIFA Goal-project hostel but it does not make any difference. The standard is the same”.

No fewer than 30 states including the FCT and other organizations like Civil Defence, Customs, Prisons and the Police have presented players for the two categories of the championship, (Senior and Junior).

Adegbomire said N3m is up for grabs but refused to give the breakdown of the cash prize, citing the absence of the Secretary General of the Federation as his reason for being evasive with the breakdown.

“We have N3m for grabs, we have trophies, we have medals…it is difficult for me to say now, how much each winner will take.”

As assuring as the words of the ex-president sounded, some of the players who spoke to Shot on condition of anonymity expressed doubts as to whether the eventual winners would smile home with the prizes as pledged.

One of the national players who craved for anonymity said he is not new to antics of organizers and so he does not expect so much in order not to be disappointed.

“I don’t usually expect so much from these organizers. They can make so many promises but in the end, you may not get anything. It is said blessed are those who do not expect much from Nigerian sports administrators for they will not be disappointed.

“I just pray that this time, they will fulfill their promises”, he stated.

The championship organizers battled tooth and nails to get the competition started on Thursday but it was not until the full circle of the show of shame which had already caught public attention and condemnation was witnessed.