Ekiti State Government has debunked reports on social media of purported harassment of some sportsmen in Ado Ekiti for refusing to represent the State.

The Technical Advisor to the State Governor on Sports, Dr. Olusola Osetoba, in a statement made available to newsmen, described the report as a gross misrepresentation of facts, adding that on the contrary, Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration has continued to demonstrate absolute commitment to the development of sports and welfare of athletes in the State.

According to her, in recognition of the importance of nurturing young talents through sports with the aim of creating opportunities for them to achieve both local and international success, the State Government is investing a huge sums of money in developing sports infrastructure, fostering youth talent, and promoting sports development in the state.

She stressed that the renovation of the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti which includes upgrading the football pitch to synthetic turf, renovating the administrative block, upgrading the athletics track, improving the spectator stands, and enhancing security with perimeter fencing, is targeted to meet global standards and boost sports development, adding that the State is also constructing an ultramodern 900-seat Indoor Sports Complex that would accommodate various sports to boost availability of facilities in the State.

Dr. Osetoba however noted that over the years, coaches and state officials in Ekiti State have grappled with the persistent issue of training athletes with resources and facilities provided by the State and they ended up competing for rival States at national events leaving Coaches feeling betrayed, disillusioned and frustrated.

She cited instances where some athletes were trained and even transported to competitions like the National Sports Festival, only for them to betray their allegiance to the State and represented rival states.

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Osetoba explained that to check the ugly trends of using the State’s resources to train athletes that are likely to end up competing against the State in National competitions, the State Sports Commission decided not to give free training facilities and coaching to athletes that are not committed to representing the State, stressing that they would henceforth be treated as private entities and required to pay the going rate to use the facilities.

Osetoba stated that the decision to safeguard the interest of the State as well as other innocent and straightforward athletes, apparently did not go down well with the Sports mercenaries who resorted to violence harassing the General Manager, coaches and other unsuspecting athletes.

Stressing that appropriate security agencies were promptly informed to forestall breakdown of law and order, the Governor’s Technical Advisor reiterated Government’s commitment to the safety of life and property of people in the State, particularly the innocent and law abiding citizens.