Ekiti Athletes Get New Kits, As State Assembly Probes Officials

Team Ekiti on Wednesday unveiled their new kits at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba in what is a reparation for their show of shame at the opening ceremony of the Games on Saturday, where viral pictures online showed their athletes during the march-past wearing different shades of pants and slippers on white T-shirts.

The new kits will be used by the athletes during the closing ceremony on Saturday.

This comes as the Ekiti State House of Assembly began investigation into the kits scandal that rocked the state’s camp in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

The Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports, Idowu Odebunmi, expressed the House’s dissatisfaction with the negligence of the sports council officials resulting in the misrepresentation of the state.

Odebunmi, who said at the Parliamentary Session on Tuesday evening that the probe was initiated to ensure accountability, transparency and adherence to standards in representing Ekiti State, assured that the House would follow it to logical conclusion.

The committee, however, directed the state’s sports council general manager, Adekuble Adeyemi, to come back with all his senior officials  upon their return from the event.

The chairman stated that the committee’s report would be submitted to the House after the conclusion of its investigation for further legislative action.

While the sports council boss and his officials are under fire, the athletes have continued their business in Asaba by progressing in their respective events.

Golfer Abdulrahman Fatai won the first gold medal for the state in the golf event on Monday. They won their second gold in golf courtesy of Abdulrahman Mustapha, the younger brother of Abdulrahman Fatai. The younger Abdulrahman defeated his counterpart from Borno in the final. His elder brother, Fatai, also won a silver medal for the state in golf as well.

Some of their other athletes have also dazzled in the table tennis and handball events at the early stages of the competition but their inadequate preparations might cut-short their potential, according to an official.