The Association of Veteran Supporters of Sports, Bayelsa State Chapter, has passed a vote of no confidence on Mr. Daniel Igali, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, for dereliction of duty.
In a statement signed by the Association’s president, Mr. Zikala Joseph, and Secretary, Hon. Ebisindou Doubra, the Association lambasted the Commissioner for his inability to attract a single sponsor for the two state-owned teams despite the height they achieved last year.
Bayelsa Queens and Bayelsa United won the Male and Female versions of the FA Cup also known as AITEO Cup in Nigeria.
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They noted that sports in the state has deteriorated under the Commissioner, adding that even having the status of an Olympian and a Canadian Citizen and exposed to an array of the best sports facilities across the world, Igali is yet to make moves on how the state can acquire modern sports facilities for various sports teams.
The group equally cited the poor outing of Bayelsa at this year and last year’s Youth Elimination Series at Asaba, Delta State, and other national events as a result of the decayed sports facilities in the state and wondered why the Commissioner is not bothered by such deficiency.
They observed that under the watch of the Sports Commissioner, the state’s Table Tennis team, Badminton, Volley Ball, Judo and other related teams, have no standard facilities for training and have adopted alternative training grounds for competitions.
“He said he is only bothered about wrestling programmes at the expense of other sports”, the group alleged.
They wondered why he has not presented a memo to build a permanent site for Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens to the state government for approval.
They said while other state Commissioners of Sports are lobbying the private sector for sponsorship ahead of the Nigerian National League and Women Premiership League football season, the Commissioner is busy refurbishing the Samson Siasia Football pitch and other facilities.
