10th November, 2010
The poor facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Nigeria, has forced Nigerian athletes out of the venue.
P.M.Sports checks revealed that the athletes are moving in their numbers to the Rowe Park in Yaba, Lagos, where they observe their daily training.
It was gathered that many of the athletes prefer to train at the Rowe Park because the facilities at the Sports City have gone bad. The tartan tracks at the stadium have been bad for years without renovation.
Some facilities, which are still in good condition are not accessible to the athletes. Some basketballer, who spoke to P. M.Sports said they prefer to train in the outdoor Court instead of the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium.
The athletes castigated the National sports Commission for the poor treatment meted out to the athletes, describing the rot of facilities as a disgrace to the nation.
However, the departure of the athletes have taken its toll on some businesses at the stadium. Worst hit by the development are the sports shops and other stores, where athletes do not patronise on a daily basis.
Amputee Table-Tennis player, Blessing Agwu said most players do not even bother about their training because there are no competitions in sight.
Agwu argued that most athletes, who would have represented different states at the forth coming National Sports Festival, have been dropped because they could not measure up with the standard.
—Jolaolu Moyosere
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 P.M.News