States planning to field over-aged athletes at the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games scheduled to be held in Lagos next year have been warned against the practice, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) vowing to sanction offenders.
The South-South Zonal Coordinator of the NSC, Mr Peter Njoku, gave the warning at the conclusion of the South-South Zonal Eliminations for the Nigeria Intermediate Games and National Sports Festival in Calabar, Cross River State.
Njoku said the NSC, under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, would not tolerate age cheating, stressing that the commission was committed to developing sports from the grassroots and providing opportunities for young talents to thrive.
He disclosed that some athletes were detected during the screening exercise in Calabar for allegedly presenting fake National Identification Numbers (NIN) in an attempt to circumvent the age verification process.
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According to him, the NSC would not allow individuals to undermine the commission’s efforts to reposition Nigerian sports and establish a sustainable pathway for the discovery and development of young athletes.
Njoku commended the innovations introduced by the NSC leadership, noting that the Intermediate Games would provide a steady pipeline of young athletes capable of replacing ageing competitors and developing into international stars.
He described the Intermediate Games as a welcome development that would expose young athletes to competitive sports at an early age while helping them build the experience required for future national and international competitions.
The South-South Coordinator also commended the Cross River State Government for successfully hosting the zonal eliminations, while applauding states that fielded athletes who met the stipulated under-19 age requirement.
He said their compliance demonstrated a commitment to the development of grassroots sports and the future of Nigerian athletics.
