Ex-sports Commissioner Wants Professionals to Head Sports Institutions, Organisations

 

``That is the only way that we can ensure continuity in development of sports across the country.’’

Ebewele, a former sports commissioner in Edo State, told reporters in Lagos that that ideal situation was to appoint professionals who were knowledgeable in the rudiments of sports.

 He noted that sports could only develop with the right people occupying sports offices.

``The only way forward is to apply professionals, apply people that are probably ex-athletes, if for instance you bring in a person like Atanda Musa, the former national Africa, Commonwealth table tennis champion.

``If you bring him to take responsibility as far as table tennis is concerned because it is Atanda Musa, there are so many disgusting things, stories he will not be heard about his game.

``Even if he has to take personal responsibility he will take it but if you bring a lawyer to play that role, he is a lawyer. If it is not going well, he will say after all am not a sportsman, I am a lawyer.

``He will use the money he has made in sports and go and enrich his chamber. So that is why we keep preaching they should use professionals.

``Is it not funny as big as we are, we have professors in physical health education, PHDs’ and we are always having politicians and lawyers as sports ministers?

``So, the problem starts from there. There is nothing I can tell a minister of sports that he will not nod his head.

``But if I am a minister, there is no trick, there is no game as a coach, or as a sports administrator you can play with me because I am the master of the game.

``So we must apply professionals if we are looking for a better future.’’

Ebewele also canvassed for good developmental programmes for the youths, saying the programmes should focus mainly on the primary and secondary school students.

``There should be programme for youth development and of course youth development should be centred on primary and secondary school students.

``Most of the athletes I saw at the festival had left high school as far back as four to five years. We need the younger generation.

``With proper management and monitoring, these young identified talents will do the country proud in future.’’

He noted that sentiments were not ideal for the development of sports, saying personnel who had no business with sports should not be appointed.