My people, gist don hot for Lagos as dem don yan say cash prizes go land for medallists wey go shine for 2024 National Sports Festival wey go hold for Abeokuta in May 2025. Dis one come after some athletes vex say dem no get better reward for the last two festivals wey don pass.
Abeg, make I break am down for you. Gold medallists wey do individual or doubles go carry home N300,000 each, while teams wey win gold go chop N700,000. Silver medallists go get N200,000 for individual and doubles, and silver teams go share N500,000. E no end there, bronze medallists go see N150,000, while teams wey win bronze go collect N350,000. Na wa o!
No forget say Lagos State just finish sixth for Gateway Games, carrying 38 gold, 43 silver and 88 bronze medals. As matter dey hot, last year September, athletes no gree shine eye. Dem waka go secretariat for Alausa come burst protest over the cash matter and later submit protest letters to the Governor and House of Assembly.
Dis protest no be small wahala o! E result in the dissolution of ‘senior athletes’ by the sports commission, plus dem introduce biometric data capture wey go help monitor athletes and improve their careers. Phew! Na so management and athletes’ representatives start to dey meet and gist till dem come reach agreement. Na only last festival dem go reward; the past two no go see anything.
Lekan Fatodu wey na Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission come talk say na Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu dey inspire dis cash reward matter. After dem celebrate U-15 athletes wey win for 2025 National Youth Games, dem come plea for NSF athletes too. Fatodu talk say, “We no dey owe anybody and we go make sure say we dey deliver on wetin we promise.”
After the last National Sports Festival wey happen for Abeokuta, Team Lagos shine for ninth National Youth Games, carry home 110 medals, wey be 52 gold, 32 silver and 26 bronze. Omo, dem no dey play for Lagos!
As 2026 National Sports Festival dey come for Enugu, dem don raise bar for qualification wey go involve team sports. Na only first place from zonal eliminations go qualify; no more wahala and jamboree for second position. One of the athletes wey talk with us say, “No athlete supposed to dey plead for any sport wey no reach first for their zonal qualifiers.” Dem promise say Enugu go sweet pass all the past festivals. E be like say fun dey come!
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