By Uzor Odigbo
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 to discourage them from helping Sports grow in the zone.
“I almost resigned from the AFN board owing to cantankerous, destructive actions of enemies of progress. They want to be everywhere, if you refuse 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 to 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 have 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 said that the government alone can’t bring about sports development. “That is why some of us are trying to assist the 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 said 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-assess AthIetics and sports development in general in the South West and fashion a way forward.