The General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council, Mr. Sunday Fagite, has attributed the lack-lustre performance of Team Ondo at the just-concluded 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games in Abeokuta, to lack of facilities to retain newly discovered stars support discovered athletes.

Ondo State finished in the 19th position at the festival—marking a significant decline compared to previous editions of the competition.

In a chat with Sporting Hope, Fagite explained that most athletes originally discovered and nurtured by the council’s dedicated coaches ended up representing other states due to the welfare packages offered in Ondo.

According to him, “We are still paying our athletes between N5,000 and N10,000 monthly, whereas other states pay between N50,000 and N70,000. Our coaches go to the nooks and crannies of the state to discover talents and train them to competitive levels. But at the stage when these athletes require just a bit more encouragement —such as good nutrition, supplements, and basic welfare—we fail to support them.”

“States with better welfare packages swoop in and take these athletes away. Sadly, many of them competed against us at the festival. Since there’s nothing illegal in their moves, there’s little we can do except re-strategise for future competitions,” he added.

Fagite emphasised the need for early preparations ahead of the next National Sports Festival, scheduled to be held in Enugu State. He stressed that providing better welfare packages must be a top priority going forward.

He appealed to the Ondo State Government to increase the council’s running grants, which also cover athlete allowances. According to him, if the monthly stipends are reviewed to match the current economic realities, many of the athletes who left would be willing to return.

He also called for the swift completion of the Akure Township Stadium, citing inadequate facilities as another major challenge faced by the team. “We performed woefully in athletics because we have no tartan track to train on—no hurdles, no starting blocks. What kind of magic are we expecting from our athletes in such a situation?” he lamented.

Fagite also urged private individuals and corporate organisations to partner with the government in revitalising sport development in the state. “The government cannot shoulder the burden of sport development alone,” he noted.

“Once upon a time, we were a leading state in swimming, athletics, boxing and other areas. It’s time for our sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, to lend a helping hand to the sport sector so we can reclaim our rightful place,” he concluded.