Ministry not aware of plan to postpone National Sports Festival — Minster

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, on Wednesday said the ministry was not aware of any plan to shift the date for the National Sports Festival.

Dalung said this at a meeting with Directors of Sports Forum on Wednesday in Abuja.

The festival is scheduled to hold in Calabar in April

“I have not been briefed of any change in the date and hosting right from Calabar.

“Government decision cannot be changed without proper information,” he said.

Dalung, who was responding to rumours that the National Sports Festival have been postponed and hosting right revoke from Calabar, charged the directors to be disciplined in sports administration.

“The state directors must maintain discipline in sports. Sports can only be successful when there is discipline flowing from top to bottom.

“The directors must themselves be very discipline so that their subordinates will be discipline.

Dalung urged the directors to be fair to all athletes in selection processes.

“I advise that at every level of selection, committees must be involved and the committees should be monitored closely so that they do not deviate from this rule of fair and justice in terms of selection.

“The welfare of sports men and women should be taken religiously,” he said.

Dalung also urged the state sports directors to ensure team spirit which is essential to develop the sector.

He called for more attention to the development of sports at the grassroots.

Dalung said this was the only way to harness the potential needed to build a viable national team that can compete in international events.

Earlier, the Chairman of the forum, Mr Tunda Kazeem, said there was need for synergy between the ministry and the forum.

He also called for training and retraining of coaches and sports officials in the interest of sports development.

Kazeem called for the establishment of mini stadiums in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.