Ekeji denies

The Director General, National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji yesterday in Abuja denied having knowledge of the leadership tussle that has engulfed the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) for months.

Ekeji made the denial while presenting the 2010 Ministerial Score Card at the VIP Lounge of the National Stadium Abuja.

"There is no document on my table that indicates that. I am not aware of any leadership tussle in the NPL," he said.

Davidson Owumi had emerged as Chairman of the league from an election conducted after the exit of former league boss, Oyuki Obaseki.

However, his leadership has been questioned by some aggrieved people, amongst whom is former Bayelsa United Chairman, Victor Baribote, who has alleged that Owumi was not qualified to vie for the position in the first place.

Several meetings have been held to help resolve the matter with the former Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, President Sani Lulu setting up a committee led by Ibidapo Obe. The Obe committee recommended a fresh election as a way out.

Even the current leadership of the NFF has at different times also tried to settle the rift a situation, which has made the Ekeji's supposed ignorance baffling to many.

Bid Process

Apart from his comment about the crisis in the league, Ekeji also commented on the controversial Sponsorship deal that gave MTN the right to sponsor the league for 4 years at the tune of 2.6 billion naira. He said the Sports Commission can only advise it's parastatal but not direct them. He said that no system in the world is perfect after all.

Ekeji said the achievements recorded by the Commission in 2010 include the award of contract for the construction of 43 mini Sports centres at locations across the country -- at a total cost of 1.806 billion naira. Others are the construction of Grand Stands, Fence And Natural Football Turfs in 14 locations across the country; and the construction of 6 Zonal Sports Offices in the six geo-political zones in the country. Contracts have also been awarded for Restoration and upgrading facilities at the 6 federal Stadiums under the supervision of the Sports Commission, the completion of a 200 rooms Athletes Hostel at the National Sports Complex in Abuja, and Construction of Sports Medicine Center, National Stadium, Abuja.

Ekeji was unhappy that some Nigerian athletes failed Dope tests at the Commonwealth Games in India. He said investigations proved that the athletes involved took the substance outside the Country and not in Nigeria.

Olympic target

The Sports Commission boss gave the list of events in which Nigeria will be competing at the London Olympic Games in 2012 as Sprint Races, Takwando, Terrestrial and Horizontal jumps, Wrestling and Weightlifting {Female Category).

"We are sure for now to participate in athletics, and this will be in the sprints as well as terrestrial and horizontal jumps, and football if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) does its own part.

"The talents are there for us there, and we are sure the federation can muster the finances needed to get the tickets to the games for its teams," Ekeji said.

Sports Festival date uncertain

Meanwhile, the National Sports Festival billed for Rivers State next year February may be postponed again as it clashed with electoral activities. Ekeji, who said Rivers is ready for the event, admitted that political events may force a change in date.