Daud Olatunji
The ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games, has been thrown into turmoil following separate incidents of misconduct involving kickboxing and cycling officials in Ogun State.
On Wednesday, pandemonium broke out at the kickboxing venue as rival officials of the Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (KBFN) engaged in a physical altercation over control of officiating duties.
The clash, which stemmed from a lingering leadership crisis within the federation, saw the technical director, identified as Kevin—allegedly handpicked by an embattled factional president—arrested by police following the scuffle.
The competition was immediately suspended, disrupting Wednesday’s scheduled bouts. Sources revealed that the crisis followed the controversial impeachment of the federation’s president and the imposition of another leader considered unqualified by a section of the board.
This division led to the sidelining of other executives and the selection of unqualified referees by the Kevin-led faction, sparking violent protest at the venue.
In a bid to salvage the integrity of the festival, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of Main Organizing Committee (MOC), Bukola Olopape, convened an emergency meeting with the warring factions.
A temporary resolution was brokered, assigning Kevin to oversee technical matters while Mr. Oluigbo was put in charge of officiating.
However, by Thursday afternoon, matches were yet to resume amid continued unrest.
Meanwhile, the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) has taken decisive action by suspending Edo State cycling coach, Jackson Iyobosa Edobor, for what it described as “unacceptable behaviour” during the cycling event on May 21.
According to a suspension letter signed by CFN Secretary-General Joel Akinluwa, Edobor threatened to kill a race official, Mr. Osaretin Emuze, accusing him of manipulating the Male Team Pursuit results.
The federation condemned the incident, citing that the coach’s actions brought shame to his team and undermined the credibility of the event.
Edobor has been barred from all cycling activities and venues at the Games and must issue a written apology within 48 hours or face further disciplinary sanctions.
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