More Crises In Team Nigeria: Athletes Short Paid, Officials Threaten To Remove Aruna Quadri
By Amaechi Agbo
The situation in Team Nigeria camp at the ongoing 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan, is anything but peaceful as they battle from one crisis to the other in a space one week of the global competition, Bestchoicesport.com.ng can report
This is because crises of various proportion have hit the camp within a week of the Summer Olympics which started a week ago.
First it was the disqualification of 10 athletes due to the sports ministry, AFN and NOC negligence: then the affected athletes taking to the streets of Japan to protest on Thursday.
Team Nigeria’s Captain, Aruna Quadri has revealed that the athetes were short paid in their entitlements even as he disclosed that officials have threatened to remove him as the team Nigeria captain.
Quadri who crashed out in the preliminary rounds of the table tennis single event challenged the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF to explain to the whole world why his coach who tutored him in 2016 Rio Olympics was removed.
He called on the minister of youth and sports, Sunday Dare to investigate the situation and address the athletes.
“Athletes were been (being) short paid and nobody should complain?
“You can remove me from National team
But please explain to the whole world
The reason the coach that qualified me to quarter final in Rio games is not in tokyo
“I dare you all to remove me because I said the truth. You are now threatening that you will remove me. I dare you all to remove me,” the 2016 Olympic table tennis quarter-finalist said.
“Honourable minister should address the athletes.
“Officials are trying to spoil your good work.”
Quadri alleged that the officials have made cheating a norm adding that any attempt by the athletes to talk about their shortcomings is considered rude and accused them of lack of respect for the athetes.
“When you talk you are rude. Cheating is always normal to them.
“No single respect for athletes. Priority is never put on athletes. Some of you caught red handed in previous games.
Meanwhile, despite the crises rocking the team in Tokyo, Blessing Okagbare and Grace Nwokocha are through to the semi-final of the 100m race.
The race continues Saturday.