The head coach of Nigeria Para Powerlfting Federation, Feyisetan Are has been jobless for a decade, www.aclsports.com reports.
Are who won the best coach of the year on three occasions at the Nigeria Sports Award is struggling to make an ends meet in the country despite his record both as an athlete and coach.
Www.aclsports.com gathered that Feyisetan Are has been using his personal funds to train lifters from the scratch like Paul Kehinde, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Bose Omolayo, Jegede Bambo, Iyabo Asunmo and a host of others to become World Champions and Paralympic champions.
The Ogun state born coach is yet to be recognised by his hometown and Nigeria despite his numerous achievements.
Are who is also the Technical Director of Nigeria Para Powerlifting Federation was also instrumental to the country hosting the first ever International Para Powerlifting Championship held last January in Lagos.
Reigning World Champion, Paul Kehinde (MON) confirmed to www.aclsports.com that his coach is jobless adding that he uses funds from family and friends to support athletes.
Kehinde appealed to the sports minster, Sunday Dare to consider his coach for an employment in the ministry in order to cushion the burden as well as encourage him.
Kehinde said, ” Since my coach started training me 9 years ago, he has never been offered an employment either at the state or federal level. My coach is jobless and it is a painful thing that we the athletes cannot do anything to help him. He has produced African Champions, World Champions, Commonwealth Champions and Paralympic champions; yet he is not recognised by the country.
“Most of the athletes he produced have been honoured and given the title MON but our coach has not been recognised for his selfless efforts”.
He further said, “I am appealing to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare to consider our coach for an appointment at the Federal Ministry of Sports. We are also appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to honour our coach and give him a house just like it was done to the former football Olympics coach”.
Feyisetan Are and Monday Emoghawe were the first Nigerians to start Para Powerlifting in Nigeria in 1988.
