Team Delta raises alarm over alleged ploy to pit athletes against govt

Team Delta has raised the alarm over an attempt by some individuals to scuttle the cordial relationship between the athletes and the state government at the ongoing 21st National Sports Festival, tagged Delta 2022. 

According to the team, some ‘faceless group of people’ had pressed the alarm bell on Monday, saying that Delta State athletes staged a protest against ‘poor feeding, allowances, and unhealthy environment’ at their Technical College camp in Asaba.

An official of Team Delta, Victor Ashakpo, who is also the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, described the story as untrue.

“Delta State’s athletes are the most disciplined as far as the National Sports Festival is concerned,” Ashakpo said. “How can someone just sit down somewhere and raise such an alarm that our athletes staged a protest, which is not true? Is it possible for athletes, who are protesting, to be winning gold medals at the same time? Long before the sports festival started, the Sports Commission had communicated to the athletes what they will get as camp allowance and others. 

“To the best of my knowledge, our government has not disappointed in that regard. The athletes are very happy and their focus is how to maintain the top position on the medals table. It is criminal of anybody to just formulate such a big lie that Team Delta athletes are protesting,” Ashakpo stated.

Some of the athletes, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday, called on those raising false alarm against the government to desist from it.

“The rate at which false stories are flying in this sports festival is getting out of hand and I want the security agencies to do something about it,” Stephen Chukwurah, a track and field athlete said.

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