Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) board member and coach, Olalekan Soetan, has reacted to the ongoing kit scandal involving world record holder Tobi Amusan and Team Nigeria at the World Athletics Championships in Japan.
Soetan admitted he was not pleased with the situation but explained that officials responsible for choosing the kits may have had their reasons, even if those reasons now need to be clarified.
“If I say I am happy, I am lying” – Soetan Speaks
Reacting to the backlash sparked by Amusan’s public criticism of the “substandard kits” given to Nigerian athletes in Tokyo, Soetan made it clear that he shared concerns over the issue.
“I could say I’m in the middle of the whole thing. If I say I am happy, I am lying. And those who decided to choose such kits for them, they have their reasons.”
He added that while he was not in Tokyo, he had firsthand experience managing kit logistics during age-grade events in Nigeria, where Puma apparel provided by a former AFN president was more than enough for the teams.
“So I would not want to worry them for taking that decision. I’m not in Tokyo, but while I was at the under 18, under 20 in Abeokuta, I was responsible to get the kids from the former president who gifted AFN the Puma kids.”
“And we got enough that we’ll go around our teams this year. And I believe some might be thinking of the future. We don’t have a deal with Puma yet.”
“Some are pitching sponsorships” – Speaking on AFN
Soetan suggested that some federation officials may have opted for alternative kits as part of broader efforts to secure sponsorships for Nigeria, explaining that the financial implications of kits must also be considered.
“And I think NSE is working hard enough to get Nigerian sponsorship, because each of those kids, some of them are $100.”
“And you know what $100 means these days in Nigeria. So they’re expensive.”
“And some decided to say, probably the kids they are pitching to sponsor Nigeria, they want them to know that Nigeria can compete in them.”
“So if you like what you see on screen, no problem.”
“I’m not happy with what I am seeing” – Soetan Admitted
The AFN board member admitted that, like Amusan and other athletes, he was disappointed with the quality and appearance of the kits.
He also acknowledged that the dissatisfaction expressed by a world-class athlete like Amusan makes it clear that the federation must urgently address the matter.
“I see a mixture of this and that. And as a board member, yes, I am in the middle of it. It’s one of my business to know how my team is looking at.”
“I’m not happy with what I am seeing. But those who took that decision, they have their reasons until they can explain.”
“So if they are complaining, even the world record holder is complaining. Definitely, there is a problem.”
Background
Tobi Amusan had taken to Snapchat to blast the AFN, complaining that Nigerian athletes were handed “small nylon bags” containing just two questionable outfits and no footwear, despite officials earlier collecting their shoe sizes.
The reigning world 100m hurdles record holder compared Nigeria’s treatment of athletes unfavourably with other nations, saying:
“Nigeria, all the other countries give their athletes two kits. See wetin Nigeria pack give us. This country (Nigeria) is really embarrassing.”
