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Sports News of Thursday, 25 February 2021

Source: punchng.com

Bademosi laments politicians’ interference in sports administration

Former Nigeria cricket captain, Prof Jide Bademosi Former Nigeria cricket captain, Prof Jide Bademosi

Former Nigeria cricket captain, Prof Jide Bademosi, says Nigerian sports will get better once politicians stop interfering in its administration.

Bademosi, who turns 80 on Thursday (today), said people who had the knowledge and requirements to administer sports should be given the chance to do so.

He said, “They need to get people who are knowledgeable, who have a background in sports whether on academic or on practical basis, and more importantly, probity.

“If you cut away all those fringes like senators, friends and all those who see every sporting event as a jamboree, where you pay one individual estacode that should be enough to pay the whole team, things will be better. They should get rid of politicians who want to interfere with the administration of sports in the country.”

Speaking further, Bademosi recounted his experience during his time as captain of the Oyo State cricket team.

He said, “As captain of my team, I was supposed to be on $180 to $250 a day, but as a player, I was supposed to be paid $6 a day. Yet they wanted me to take more officials who would have been paid $180 a day. We asked some of them, ‘why don’t you let go part of your allowances, put it in the kitty, along with mine and we distribute it among the players?’”

He said the excess money was distributed among the players who were all happy to give their best.

“If we have such strict adherence to probity and justifiable administration of funds and those who know enough, not because they want to be there for the largesse, then there will be a future,” he added.

He praised the efforts of cricketers who invested their time and resources in the development of the sport in the country, and lauded the present leadership of the Nigeria Cricket Federation for their efforts in taking cricket to the next level.

“Luckily now, cricket has some hope, some future as the president, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya, and Uyi Akpata, with his banking and insurance background, have been able to attract the corporate community and well meaning individuals to support the sport.”