NIPOGA devises new measure to checkmate mercenaries

By Tunde Ogunesan, Ado-Ekiti - 30.04.2008

In its bid to put an end to the use of non-bonafide students in its Games, the NIPOGA Council has delared that the results of the Games will henceforth be provisional.

Secretary General of NIPOGA, Mr Femi Abdulraheem disclosed this in an interview with Tribunesports at the ongoing NIPOGA 2008 at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado- Ekiti.

Abdulraheem said the council was poised to eliminate the use of mercenaries in its competition hence, its decision to go on verification of the athletes after the Games.

"The President said that NIPOGA will not tolerate the use of non-bonafide students. We have decided that results are going to be provisional, until we confirm the eligibility of these athletes from their various institutions,especially those that won medals.

"Let us have sanity in the Games. In fact, we've all signed a document that makes it an offence for a coach that fields non-bonafide students during the Games.

“Our colleagues from NICEGA are on ground to help fish out athletes that featured in last year's NICEGA Games. Any coach caught in this mess stands the risk of losing his job," he said.

Mr Abdulraheem who is also the secretary of the West African Polytechnic Games (WAPOGA) said it was painful that the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) did not join in the campaign against the use of mercenaries adding that, had NUGA joined, the menace would have reduced drastically by now.

"NUGA is not involved in this struggle yet, may be, their officials are afraid that if they expose these ineligible students, their schools will also be affected.”