Coaches in Enugu State have identified maladministration and incompetency, as a major challenge affecting the growth and promotion of sports, requesting the rational behind the constant Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s decision for sports participation in any major championship even after qualification.
Despite qualifying through the just concluded zonal elimination games in the state, the Coaches expressed disappointment over the decision reached by the Ministry in dropping Handball, Basketball and Volleyball from competing in the biannual championship.
The Coaches and Athletes made their disapproval today, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, just as the state contingents departs for the 9th edition of the Under-15 National Youth Games, NYG, scheduled to hold in Asaba, Delta State from today, August 26 to September 6, 2025.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of the Coaches hinted that he became skeptical about their participation for the Asaba games, when the state could did not even provide logistics or even register any sports during the elimination games, rather it was one of the Directors that had to salvage the situation.
Some of the athletes who were visibly irritated and disgusted with the development, also expressed their frustration, saying that the state have never shown any signs of seriousness or enthusiasm about sporting activities,.
They concluded that the situation is pathetic and a bad omen for the state aspiration in hosting of next year’s National Sports Festival, noting that the timing of the School Sports and zonal elimination programs, will not impact much on the athletes.
Every attempt to get either the Commissioner or officials of the Ministry to react to the situation proved abortive as they declined.
Meanwhile, Team Enugu who departed for the NYG in Delta State, will be represented in ten sports such as Athletics, Football (male), Wrestling, Boxing, Tennis, Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, Table Tennis and Weightlifting, with 87 contingents comprising of 62 athletes and 25 officials.
