A board member of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Chief Solomon Alao revealed that he almost threw in the towel as AFN board member owing to detractors and their agents in the South West Zone.
Chief Alao representing the South West Zone on the board of AFN and Lagos State AthIetics Association Chairman in an interview in Accra, Ghana venue of the AAC Zone ll AthIetics Championships, said that there are people who hate progressive minds and would do everything thing to discourage them from helping Sports grow in the zone.
“I almost resign from the AFN board owing to cantankerous, distractive actions of enemies of progress. They want to be everywhere, if you refused to accept their selfish ideas you become.a target for media bashing.”
“Thank God, I didn’t resign because I have learnt my lessons from my brothers on the AFN board, especially the President Chief Tonobok Okowa who I can humbly refer as my Senior brother in age and sports development and administration.”
” Following the media criticisms, I stopped all sports activities in the South West Zone for two years, but I had learnt my lessons, I won’t take such action anymore.”
I want to also give kudos to Chief Okowa, Chief Solomon Ogba former AFN president and other good minds for helping to steady the ship of progress in the federation.”
Chief Alao avarred that government alone can’t bring about sports development except corporation comes from individuals and the corporate business world.
“That is why some of us are trying to assist government in developing sports, not because we have much but for the passion for future talents we have to do it.”
On his activities on the AFN board, Chief Alao.opined that the past three and half years have been a learning curve and by the grace of God, the second four year term of this board, much more will be achieved.
The oil and gas merchant however announced that a seminar would be hosted in Ibadan next month to re-access AthIetics and sports development in general in the South West and fashion a way forward.
Source/Uzor Odigbo
