By Blessing Igidi
Speaking during a post-event review with team coaches at his office in Centenary City, Abakaliki, Commissioner Idike described the medal tally as unacceptable and called for immediate reforms to reposition the state ahead of future competitions.
“I must say I am not pleased with the outcome of the Games,” he said. “The medal count was far below expectations, and our people at home are understandably disappointed. We must find out what went wrong and ensure it never happens again.”
Idike encouraged coaches to speak candidly about the challenges they faced and to suggest sustainable solutions that would lead to better performances in future events.
Coaches from various disciplines, including athletics, taekwondo, kickboxing, badminton, and wrestling, cited widespread issues such as lack of proper training grounds, outdated equipment, poor facilities, and delayed allowances. These setbacks, they said, severely undermined their athletes’ preparation and morale.
Football coach Martin Mkpuma highlighted the strain of a congested match schedule on his players but noted a silver lining in the invitation of one of his athletes to the national U-17 camp.
Coaches from basketball and swimming echoed similar concerns, pointing out inadequate logistics and lack of reliable transportation. The basketball coach also revealed that two of his players had been selected for Nigeria’s junior team.
In a collective appeal, the coaches urged the state government to formally integrate athletes and coaches into the civil service to stem the exodus of local talent to other states. “Over 70 percent of athletes representing other states are Ebonyians, including some who are based abroad,” one coach observed.
The swimming coach added that the absence of a standard swimming pool continued to hinder the development of promising swimmers in the state.
In response, Commissioner Idike pledged to present the coaches’ feedback to the relevant authorities and affirmed the Nwifuru administration’s dedication to sports development.
“We are not here to apportion blame but to chart a path forward. Ebonyi has the potential to be a sports powerhouse, but we must do things differently,” he said.
He emphasized the need for early preparations, grassroots talent discovery, and improved incentives for high-performing athletes. The meeting ended with a shared resolve among stakeholders to work together in restoring Ebonyi’s prominence in the national sports scene.
