Offiong Edem Foundation Tennis Tourney: Officials Trade Accusations

• Backlash as Cross River govt officials shun event

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Offiong Edem Foundation (OEF) Table Tennis tournament held in Calabar, Cross River State capital, may have come and gone, but echoes from the three-day ping pong game are still reverberating on the State sporting scene.

Lamentably, this was an event where officials of the State Ministry of Sports Development and the Sports Commission were conspicuously absent with competent sources attributing the situation to communication gap and feeling of suspicion on both sides.

Forefront News checks revealed that the State Government Sports Management officials deliberately kept their distance from the U J Esuene Stadium, venue of the competition, due to alleged non-involvement in handling the organisation, arrangements and logistics for the competition

A top official in the State’s Sports Commission, who spoke to Forefront on condition of anonymity, hinted that what they expected from the President of the Foundation was proper and effective engagement on the deliverables, the logistics packages and organisation of the entire competition.

According to the official, it is unfortunate that a contrary situation actually played out and they had no idea about what was involved or at stake in the three-day championship.

Further expressing his concerns at how things turned out, the official took a swipe at the Foundation’s President, saying it is unfortunate she seems to have forgotten in a hurry that before climbing to national limelight and gaining international fame in the sport, she was groomed and nurtured by the same Sports officials that are being given cold shoulders by her

But reacting to claims made by some of the State officials, an insider close to the Offiong Edem Foundation (OEF) sarcastically refered to the scandal rocking the outcome of Cross River’s participation at the just-concluded Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Sports fiesta hosted in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

He said at that competition, Cross River performed woefully as its representatives came last in spite of the enormous financial commitment from the State government.

“Would such outcome and past experiences have inspired the organisers to solely entrust the tennis championship in their hands”, the insider asked

The OEF official also alleged that the State Sports managers have, in several instances, proven that they are not to be trusted because their personal interests are always placed high on the scale of preference whenever sporting events are organised in the State.

Maintaining that granted the Council’s officials were not entrusted with managing the sponsorship package, the OEF team member queried if that was enough reason for them to boycott the event given their claims of being true and selfless sports lovers.

The official, while also wondering whether such negative attitude was required in welcoming an athlete who has won several national and international medals for the State in table tennis, described what happened as “unfortunate” and a “poor representation” of the State sporting image.

Further putting their unhappiness in perspective, he said; “Is this how to manage sports in the state? Despite our initial engagement, where is a single banner in this stadium heralding the event and also welcoming such an industrious daughter and sports personality, who won multiple medals for both the state and country during her hey days as National and continental champion”.

The official said; “As the tournament organisers, our joy is that an outside, the Abia state Director of Sports, Mr Obioma George, found the event a good scouting ground and was around throughout the event’s duration.”

“For us in the OEF, it is important that Sports managers in Cross River retrace their steps and focus on working for the overall good of the State. They should stop making mockery of themselves, especially in terms of always struggling and failing over each other, just to have control of sponsorship packages for their selfish gains only,” he advised.