Delta state athletes on contract have accused a staff of the sports commission, Victor Chukwudumebi Achakpo of siphoning funds meant for athletes who participated at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Abuja.
The athletes told www.aclsports.com that Delta government approved the funds before the commencement of the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival.
The athletes claimed they signed a one year contract with Delta state sports commission but Achakpo (in charge of disbursement of funds) paid three months income.
One of the athletes said, “Delta State Commission has refused to pay some of the contracted athletes for National Sports Festival, though the money was released. Some were paid while some were not; the man in charge has been trying to play smart.
“He was supposed to pay before competition begins but he kept on posting that he would come to the venue, we signed contract of one year only for him to pay 3 months”.
Another aggrieved athlete said, “It was one Sunny that started the whole drama and they forgot that our agreement before leaving our base was one year contract. On getting to Lagos where Delta had their camp (few sports camped in Lagos), he said the state will only be able to pay 6months”.
An athlete disclosed that the content of the agreement did not state that you must win a medal for the state.
He said, “Achakpo is only trying to scare some athletes off by telling them they did not win medals. Even for people that did not win medals, it’s not his business. The agreement only states that you compete for Delta state while they pay you.
“The athletes were destabilized as a result of not being paid before their competition, thereby making them not to perform excellently”.
