Bayelsa To Pay Athletes’ Allowances

The Bayelsa State Gov
ernment has promised to pay outstanding allowances accrued to the state’s athletes ahead of the forthcoming national sports competitions.
The Director of Sports in the state, Isaac Mark-Tubo, told our correspondent in Yenagoa that arrangements were being made to settle the allowances.
Mark-Tubo said the allowances were being settled to ginger the athletes for better performance.
He listed the two imminent sporting events as the 2014 National Sports Festival scheduled for Calabar and the National Youth Games.
“Yes, challenges abound in life. In the sports council, there are challenges as regards to dearth of facilities and short-fall in government revenue.
“But our focus right now is to avoid distractions while remaining focused on the National Youth Games and the Centenary Games in Calabar,” he said.
Some of the athletes said the settlement of the outstanding allowances would motivate them to prepare adequately for the upcoming games.
One of them, who preferred anonymity, urged the state government to upgrade its facilities for training and settle their allowances.
“We had failed promises in the past, even when we performed well while representing the state at national competitions. So, we want all allowances paid.
“The government needs to complete the on-going construction of the swimming pool which has been abandoned. We also need tracks for training.
“Seven months after the National Youth Game in Abuja, we are yet to be paid our allowances. We are not encouraged by all these,” the athlete said.