Leader of the delegation of Team South Africa at the ongoing 3rd combined CAA African U18/U20 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr. John Mathane, has explained the reason behind the relocation of their athletes from the Games Village to a hotel accommodation.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the championships had selected the Redeemed Camp, located along the Lagos Expressway, as the accommodation for all athletes competing in the championships.
The South Africans, who arrived in Nigeria with a large delegation of 88 athletes, stayed in the Games Village for three days but decided to move to a hotel on Friday.
Their relocation from the Games Village sparked some negative reactions from some South African journalists in their country.
However, Mathane, who is also the Vice President of Athletics South Africa, explained at a press conference held at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, on Saturday, that they decided to move the athletes to a hotel in Abeokuta on tactical grounds.
“First of all, I want everyone to know that we came to Nigeria to compete in this CAA African U18/U20 championships, and not to play politics. We are sportsmen and women. Since our arrival in Nigeria, the LOC and every Nigerian we have come across have been extremely nice to us. They have given us every reason to associate with Nigerians.
“As the defending champions, our target is to win this championship for the third time. While we were at the Games Village, we noticed that every move we made, there was always a Nigerian following us. If we enter the toilet, a Nigerian will follow us. If our athletes go to eat, there is a Nigerian following them. At a point, I asked a Nigerian why they are following us up and down. One of them responded, saying, ‘We want to know the trick behind the success of South Africans in these championships.’
“At that point, we decided to move out of the Games Village because we are determined to retain our title here in Abeokuta,” Mathane stated.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of CAA, Lamine Fatr, had praised Nigeria, particularly the Ogun State government, for playing the role of a big brother in bailing out the boy within a short period after the original Josh of the championships failed. “We remain grateful to Nigeria for all you have done,” Fatr stated.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission and Chairman of the ongoing CAA African U18/U20 championships, Hon. Bukola Olopade, said that the complain by a South African journalist on the relocation of their athletes from the Games Village to a hotel was uncalled for, saying: “I was not in anyway bothered by his report because CAA and all athletes are very happy with what we are doing.
We have a good relationship with South Africa and will continue to maintain it. I am pleased that the leader of the South African delegation, John Mathane, has clarified the circumstances surrounding their relocation from the Games Village to a hotel.
“We have a team of technocrats who understand everything in hosting the best African championships. From technical to media and publicity, feeding, transportation, accommodation, security, ceremonial and volunteers, we have men and women who are capable,” Olopade stated.
