Following the suspension of Kwara State Athletics Association by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) over the presence of a banned coach at the last Golden League in Benin, Chairman, Kwara State Sports Commission, (KSSC), Bolakale Mogaji, has vowed to punish those directly responsible for incident.
 
Magaji said plans were afoot to have the AFN review its stance on Kwara State, adding: “We have the future of young athletes to think about, and officers responsible for the lapse resulting in the sanction will face the music.”
 
AFN placed indefinite suspension on Kwara State Athletics Association when it got evidence that the association still engaged banned Coach Hammid Muritala in athletics activities.
 
Coach Muri, as he is popularly called, is currently serving a 10-year-ban after admitting to have force fed a youth athlete with banned substances two years ago during the National Youth Games in Ilorin.
 
Rather than stay off athletics activities, Coach Muri wangled his way into the state’s contingent travelling to Benin for last week AFN Golden League, which raised concerns from stakeholders.
 
Explaining why the Sports Commission shouldn’t be blamed, Magaji, a former sprinter and squash player, said that the banned coach had been on suspension since October 2022.
 
He stated that the Commission was not aware that the suspended coach travelled with the state’s contingent to Benin.
 
”Names of 10 athletes and a coach was submitted to represent Kwara; coach Muritala was not included.
 
”The notice of the coach travelling with the athletes came when the Commission’s Secretary, Mr Tsado Haruna, tried to find out about their movement to Benin City on June 12, 2023.
 
”Subsequent to the above, I gave the directive to Mr Haruna to query the Head Coach, Patience Lawal, Association Secretary, Kafilat Aliyu, Coach Oluwaseyi Awe and the suspended coach, Muritala.
 
”Their replies to the queries will determine the next line of action,” the chairman said.
 
On the suspension of the state by the AFN, Magaji said it has not been officially communicated to them.
 
He, however, noted that when the commission gets informed, eventually, it would apologise and show evidence of correspondences to exonerate itself.