Athletics federation sprints into debt

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is running hard these days, but unlike other federations whose athletes are winning medals and setting new world records, our athletes are losing all the time. All the winnings of the AFN take place off the track, and the medals they have won are called debts. At the last count, the federation is close to N100 million in the red.

These debts, which are owed to individuals and corporate organisations, have not only become big embarrassments to the federation, they are threatening the future of athletics because the federation is too broke to even meet daily needs. Already, and this is worse, the Abuja Super Grand Prix is in danger of been yanked off the International Association of Athletics Federation(IAAF) calendar because most of the athletes that competed in Abuja have vowed never to come back with some even threatening to report to the IAAF. Moreover, athletes' representatives have resolved not to send their athletes to the next edition.

The genesis

The federation's race into debts began shortly after the present board was sworn in. The loser in that election, the Benue State governor Gabriel Suswan who contested for the post of federation president was said to have promised to support the sport.

Suswan, according to federation sources, sponsored the first classics in Makurdi. But the governor was said to have withdrawn his funding when his contributions were not even acknowledged in the media.

Determined to save face, the board was said to have sourced for funds for the last two legs in Lagos and the president, Solomon Ogba was said to have played a great role in sponsoring the two meets.

Abuja Grand Prix and Mobil Championship

The debt at this stage was still manageable, but the debt race changed from a marathon to sprints on the eve of Abuja Grand Prix and Mobil Championships.

The federation had invited a legion of athletes without sufficient fund to take care of them. When the athletes arrived, they were first moved to the Transcorp Hilton but when the bill became too much they were again moved to Savannah Suites and other smaller hotels.

With the event still about a week away, the money Mobil Producing Unlimited gave for the Mobil Championship was used to take care of some of the Grand Prix's expenses.

But the federation was still in need of money.

Enter Rosa Collins. A former African record holder in the Triple jump, Collins' temper is as legendary as her kindness. Seeing that her federation is about to be disgraced, Collins, who runs a car business in Abuja offered to bail them with the understanding that she will be paid immediately after the championship when the National Sports Commission (NSC) would have paid the federation.

From an initial sum of two million naira advanced to the federation to take care of athletes brought from the camp in Ijebu-Ode, by the end of the Abuja Grand Prix and Mobil Championship, Collins has loaned the federation about twenty-five million naira.

All efforts to get her money back has been futile. The federation has the approval of the NSC to spend but till they have refused to pay, so the likes of Collins who saved the federation from embarrassment are currently suffering and their businesses are grounded.

But it is not just Collins, technical officials who officiated at the Mobil Championship are still being owed allowances, ditto hotels like Savannah Hotel, Transcorp, and food suppliers and water vendors.

Athlete's ticket refund

The federation's debt is not just external, internally too they are owing. United States based hurdler Jessica Ohanaji is still being owed allowances that date back to 2008 and earlier this year. Other athletes being needing refunds include Ajoke Odumosun, Chinedu Oriala, Obinna Metu, Bola Lawal, Peter Emelezie and a host of others, including coaches and officials who have not been paid their allowances, ticket refund, bonuses and other sundry refunds.

While for most of the athletes, officials and coaches, mum is the word, it is not so with Albert Ayeni, father of Discus thrower Opeyemi Ayeni who is yet to get any refund on his Lagos - New York ticket. After series of mails without any positive response, Ayeni has only harsh words for the federation and its scribe. In his last mail dated December 14, he wrote: ‘‘I am writing to express my displeasure at the way the Nigerian Athletics Federation has been treating my family over the refund of Opeyemi Ayeni's airfare ($1891.30 + 18% interest) and other perquisites in connection with the July 2009 event in Abuja, Nigeria. Opeyemi honored the invitation to participate at a notice of less than 24 hours under difficult circumstances. He was treated badly in Nigeria and had to find his way back to the US at his own expense using borrowed money for airfare at 18% interest. Since July we have been in communication on this matter without any headway. The Athletics Federation is causing my family unnecessary discomfort and anxiety. Our son did not receive a kobo honorarium in spite of the promise to pay a certain amount to him as winner of the event in which he participated.

Neither was he paid the daily out-of-pocket allowance for the time he spent in Nigeria. Our resolve is to pursue this matter until it is resolved satisfactorily and we shall use all available avenues to reach this end.''

Maria Worphill, the scribe of AFN appealed to Ayeni to be patient, saying ‘‘Thank you for the mails and your patience. We have been trying to raise fund to sort out all parties involved at the Track and Field events held in Nigeria. I want to use this opportunity to still appeal to you to exercise a little more patience.''

Abuja Grand Prix

A big source of embarrassment for Nigeria as a nation, the sports commission and the federation is the money owed athletes that participated at the Abuja Grand Prix.

The money, if not paid soon, may not result in athletes boycotting all meets in Abuja, but the IAAF may yank the meet off it's 2010 calendar.

While most Nigerians are not protesting, the same could not be said for other Athlete managers. Ulf Saletti in an e-mail to the AFN scribe pleaded for the payment of Sudanese athletes that competed at the Abuja Grand Prix. ''It has now passed another 3 weeks since I sent my previous email and I have heard nothing from you or received any payment of the USD 9250 to our account which is a very big disappointment and a big letdown for the Sudanese athletes who travelled to Abuja and ran well and are expecting to get the prize money they earned.

The situation is very serious but I trust you will make sure that the payment is done in the near future so I look forward to receiving your confirmation.'' In the breakdown, Saletti is demanding that the federation pays the Sudanese athletes and federation eight thousand American dollars. There is also an additional invoice of $3,500 for Nawal El Jack and the Sudan Women 4 x 400 m team. It is not only the Sudanese that are complaining however. Caroline Feith of Pro Sports International in an e-mail to Wophill demanded that the federation pays Gary Kikaya who run the 400m at the Grand Prix.

‘‘I am writing to you in regards to the participation of Kikaya in your meet in Abuja. I negotiated in good faith with Pat Itanyi and we came to an agreement for Gary Kikaya to run the 400m. We were promised that the money would be paid to Kikaya directly while in Abuja. Unfortunately Kikaya was not paid and he was told that the money would be sent shortly. Since then I'm trying to get in contact with Itanyi, but unfortunately she is not answering my email or my telephone calls. I sent an email earlier to you but again no answer. If no response from your side I feel obliged to discuss this coming weekend with the IAAF while in Thessaloniki for the WAF.

For American long jumper, Randall Flimmons, Abuja meet was his first competition in which he is yet to be paid, in an e-mail to the federation he wrote ‘‘I am Randall Flimmons, just spoke to you recently {October 06, 2009} in regards to the prize money being disbursed after the CAA Abuja Super Grand Prix having taken place on July 18, 2009. I obviously knew of no other individual to contact in regards to having not received any data, to this current date, of there being any intention of the athletes being rewarded.

I finished at the top of the field in the Men's Long Jump with a facility record and a personal best in the contest which too positioned me at 5th place ranking in the U.S. I must tell you I am very appreciative of you, and each individual who facilitated all arrangements with getting me and Monique Hennagan to the destination point to perform. Exceeding expectations on that day was my intent and I thank God Almighty for the opportunity to do well on my first international meeting.

If there is anyone I can talk to, or whether or not this is a lost cause, by all means do advise me. And thanks again for a Wonderful Experience; I look forward to seeing you all again''.

Nadjina Kaltouma from Chad who competed in 400m and 200m threaten to report AFN to the world if they fail to pay ‘‘I spoke to my federation about the prize money and they say if by the end of this month I did not get my money. They will contact IAAF because it not fair. If they keep doing that no one will ever go to their meet again.''

George Comissiong of Trinidad and Tobago federation is tired because of the daily harassment by athletes for their money. In Comissiong's last mail to AFN, he wrote thus: Dear General Secretary, The document detailing payment to athletes show that are owed 21,400.00 American dollars. The attached documents were sent to your Federation a month ago but to date we have not received any response. The athletes have been calling almost on a daily basis with respect to their prize monies. It would be appreciated if you can advise us on when the funds will be sent. Below is a break down of the amount they are owed: Women 100m Semoy Hackett Premium 1st 4,000.00(all monies in dollars); Ayanna Hutchinson Premium 5th. 1,000.00;Reyare Thomas Premium 6th. 600.00 ;100m Hurdles Aleesha Barber Classic 2nd.2,000.00 ; Shot Put Annie Alexander Promotional 3rd. 800.00 ;Long Jump Rhonda Watkins Premium 1st. 4,000.00 ;4X100m Relay Trinidad & Tobago Premium 2nd. 3,000.00 ;Men 100m Men Keston Bledman Premium 2nd. 3,000.00; 4X100m Relay Men Trinidad & Tobago Premium 2nd. 3,000.00: Total Monies Due 21,400.00

Sports Commission as culprit

For officials of AFN and NSC the issue of debt is a ‘no go' area; they all referred NEXT Sports to the media officer Duro Ikhazuogbe.

In a telephone interview, Ikhazuogbe said he is not competent to talk about the issue, that the president and the scribe are in the best position to speak on the issue, but he insisted that the federation is not indebted to anybody.

According to Ikhazuogbe, the federation is now focused on preparing athletes for the Commonwealth Games next year.

But insiders in sports blamed the Minister of Sports and Chairman of NSC Sanni Ndanusa for the travails of the athletics federation. They argued that the federation got approval from the commission before they embarked on the borrowing spree . The commission has used the usual excuse of lack of funds to deny AFN its allocations with which it could have offset its debts. yet the commission could spend ₦250 million to host Africa. Sports minister, the commission chairman, is consumed with his ambition to become the president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, and no expense is to be spared to ensure that he gets it. However, analysts say this is at the detriment of his primary assignment, which is the revival of sports at all levels.

Sports buffs blamed the presidency for appointing Ndanusa, who could not run a corner shop called Nigeria Tennis Federation, to run a departmental store called National Sports Commission. So, Ndanusa, when will the federation's race away from debt change from marathon to sprints? The athletes are waiting, coaches are waiting, officials are waiting, even board members who have switched off their phones permanently are waiting. Indeed, all the stakeholders in athletics pray we won't have to wait much longer