Speaking to Trustsports on moves by his council to dissolve the existing sports associations in the FCT, the director noted that anytime associations are to be constituted, so many people rush for them but the moment they discover that there is no money to be made out of them, they varnish into thin air.
He said apart from the fact that the tenures of the FCT sports associations have expired and should be dissolved, most of the members have been found wanting as evident in the lack of activities in almost all the associations.
Alim maintained that the development is caused by the misconception which such members had about sports associations before coming out to vie for membership.
“These sports associations we are talking about dissolving have been gone for over three years. They have been moribund. The reason is that their own understanding of what a sport association should be is so shallow. People assume that sports associations are another money making ventures” he stated.
The director said before sports associations can function effectively, those who aspire to such positions must know that it is selfless service to society.
Alim however said he appreciated the fact that most of the associations operated without grants from government but that should not be enough excuse for abandoning the sports associations they pledged to serve.
He decried the attitude of sports associations going from one corporate body to another in search of funds without taking along incentives that would motivate such prospective sponsors to respond favourably.
“Most of them go to one company or the other for sponsorship whenever they are organizing a competition. Companies are virtually tired. You find out that over thirty one association will apply for one thing or the other from Julius Berger. These companies are not father Christmas so it is not possible for them to throw their money here and there” he said.
He, therefore hinted that as he embarks on reconstitution of the sports associations, he would cut down on the number of associations to a manageable number as has been done by the minister of sports at the national level.
“The national Sports Commission, NSC, has taken the initiative by reducing the number of sports federations. We are going to do the same by reducing ours to twenty or less where need be”.
Alim said already names of people who have genuine interest in sports have been penciled down and when the time comes, they would be invited to come and constitute the sports associations.
He emphasized that it will not be another free for all show as only those who have been found competent and truly committed to sports development in the territory would be considered.
“We would bring together people who are genuinely interested to be together to develop, promote and run the respective associations” disclosed
