The Athletes in Imo State training for the up coming 18th National Sports Festival (Eko ’12) have called on the Government to come to their aid with funds as they have been training with empty stomach.
According to investigations conducted by ‘Imo Trumpeta’, the Athletes are yet to go into camping even when the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Kenneth Emelu had promised them that their camping exercise will commence as at last week.
At a time other states have concluded plans with their camping activities and released the number of Athletes they will be taking to ‘Eko games 2012’, Imo Athletes are saddled with the responsibility of having to feed themselves with their pocket money during training periods with little or know facility to train with.
On Monday November 12, ‘Imo Trumpeta’ went round Dan Anyiam Stadium to ascertain for its self the level of preparedness the Athletes and their Coaches have gone for the festival.
Speaking to ‘Imo Trumpeta’ one of the Athletes who did not want his name mentioned, revealed that most of the Athletes are already beginning to think of strike actions as the only way to make the ministry and the Governor look their way.
“They want us to go to Lagos and win medals even Gold, but they don’t want to put us into Camp and release funds. Some of us who have sustained injuries during the cause of our training had been treating them with their personal money.
“As am speaking to you now I have not had my breakfast, but I just finished undergoing a strainous training exercise and am not sure were the meal will come from.
“Some of us have turned to beggers, even when we are supposed to be treated with care to achieve the set objectives.
We employ the Governor to please come to our aid as we genuinely want to excel in “Eko ‘12”, he concluded.
