The Executive Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Pinnick, on Friday, attributed the success of Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to the support by Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan,
During an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr Pinnick said that the Governor “gave her everything she needed to succeed.”
He revealed that GovernorUduaghan played a major in the comeback of Blessing as he gave her regular words of encouragement, pep talks and financial assistance, which included approving a training grant of 10,000 dollars monthly for her.
Pinnick,who also lauded Blessing as an excellent athlete who had a vision and mission, maintained that the role of State Governments in achieving better performances in sport was very important.
He cited Governor Uduaghan’s support for Blessing as an example of how State Governments could help improve the standard of sports in Nigeria.
He, however, also said that the success of Blessing’s wins was also as a result of the support from President Goodluck Jonathan.
“After the Olympics which Nigeria performed badly in, the President called a summit, (and) that was the beginning and launch pad to Nigeria’s success in sports. He emphasized on funding, which the country hardly has a problem with now”, he said.
Mr Pinnick also stressed that if there was a proper structure in Sports Medicine, the case of Amalaha, who was suspended from the Commonwealth Games for failing a drugs test, may have been prevented.
He claimed that Amalaha might have been a victim of using malaria drugs that have some form of banned steroids in them.
He, however, advised that there should be more concentration and establishment of a National Sports Commission were there would be a proper structure in making sure that there are technocrats working in all d various departments.
Mr Pinnick urged the Senate President to help put this factors into the law establishing the National Sports Commission.
