THE long-drawn battle between the sports ministry and coaches in Edo State over promotion and deployment to hinterlands have taken another dimension.The state's Sports ministry few days ago released the names of coaches to be drafted to all the 18 local governments areas in the state so as to discover grassroots talents for the state sports council, a situation that did not augur well for the coaches who are bent on being promoted and receiving their entitlements before embarking on the journey.The aggrieved coaches who early yesterday gathered at the tennis courts of Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin-City were sighted by Tribunesports holding an emergency meeting that lasted for twenty -six minutes after which they held a mass demonstration to the Ezoti Street of the State's Sports Ministry to express their disgust at the way and manner they were being asked to embark on the programmes without treating the issues of their promotion very seriously.The coaches also protested the aspects of funding and equipment to execute the mandate given them as not realistic.Tribunesports investigation gathered that coaches deployed out of their former duty post were to receive the sum of twenty five thousand naira for a period of three months .The coaches also complained that ever since they returned from the 17th National Sports Festival in Port-Harcourt, the ministry is yet to appreciate them for their efforts.In the same vein, they lamented that many of them have not been promoted despite the lengthy period of service.Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Sports, Hon Iziegbe Anita Evbuomwan told Tribunesports that the promotion of the coaches were compiled and sent to the government who later promoted those that deserved it while those that did not merit it were denied.She said 'I am not in position to promote any coaches or athletes, but it is the duty of the State government, ours is to recommend them. So it is not ideal for them to raise such issues.
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