Konyegwachie decries Sports Ministry's delay in payment of African Games allowances

Team Nigeria boxing head coach, Tony Konyegwachie, has expressed his displeasure over nonpayment of allowances to some of the boxers who won laurels for the country at the 13th African Games in Ghana.

Team Nigeria topped the boxing medals table at the Games with eight gold and two silver medals, but they have yet to be paid almost two weeks after the Games ended in Ghana, with three gold medallists Adam Olaore, Patricia Mbata, and Cynthia Ogunsemilore, as well as Konyegwachie featuring prominently on the list despite promises made by the Sports Minister, John Enoh that athletes will not encounter any delay in getting their allowances.

A day before the end of the Games, the Ministry of Sports Development stated that it had begun payments of athletes' and officials’ camp allowances and bonuses for winning medals.

“Today the 22nd of March, the athletes started receiving their camp allowances,” Sports Minister’s aide Diana-Mary Nsan said in the statement.

“A lot of athletes had doubts and fears but the trust and confidence has been restored. Athletes who won medals will also get their bonuses.”

 “It’s unfortunate that some of our colleagues have been paid while we’re yet to receive any alert. We’re appealing to the Honourable Minister to wade into the matter and make sure we’re paid because our families are hungry and we need the money to settle some debts,” coach Konyegwachie said.

“I am very angry and it is making me bitter. I want it to be investigated as I feel some boxers are being robbed, three of my boxers and I have not been paid bonuses for the African Games while others have gotten theirs.”

Aside from the allowances, payments promised to gold medallists are also being withheld. One of the boxers, Omole Dolapo, who has received his allowance told our correspondent that he was yet to get his bonus for his gold medals.

“I have gotten the allowance, but I know some of my colleagues are yet to get theirs. For the medal bonus, I have not received that, and we are still waiting for the payment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Dapo Akinyele that he was aware of the allowance payment delay and that it is not only a boxing problem saying, “The Federal Ministry of Sports is working on all payment for the athletes. The allowance delay cuts across all Federations and not just boxing.”