Kunle Adelabu
A former captain of the Lagos Swimming team, Benson Philip who represented Bayelsa State at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Edo, due to his disagreement with the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) over treatment of athletes, has reacted to the statement by the Commission’s Director, (Technical) that he’s not sure of his membership of the team.
Benson, who won silver for Bayelsa at the sports festival, spoke with THE IMPACT a few days after he returned from Edo during which he alleged that the Lagos team performed woefully at the festival due to lack of training and care for its swimmers.
The Director, Technical, LSSC, Mr Travih Olumide, who spoke with our reporter on phone after attempts to reach officials of the Lagos Swimming Association and that of the commission proved abortive, has disputed Benson’s allegations and described it as false.
While stating that Lagos swimmers had adequate training at the Teslim Balogun swimming pool for the sports festival, the Director also charged our reporter to ensure that Benson proved his identity, stating that no member of the team can make such a claim.
Meanwhile, the embattled former captain of the Lagos Swimming team, Benson, and the only swimming gold medalist for the Lagos contingent at the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Edo, Olopele Smart, have both substantiated the allegations and opened more can of worms.
Benson said that he was made the senior team captain in 2018 after serving the junior team in the same capacity while also alleging that the commission/association did not provide them with any ID card, a claim that Olopele also admitted.
He said that they were only provided with tags in 2012 and 2018 which he presented to our reporter among many other certificates to prove that he had been a member of the Lagos Swimming team.
“I have my certificates with me since I have been representing Lagos State and the last time that we were issued ID cards was during the administration of Gov. Babatiunde Fashola as the governor of Lagos State in 2012”, he said.
“In 2018, we were only given tags that identified us as members of the state team. I have the tags for Eko 2012 and Abuja 2018 with me here. They did not issue any ID for us at all”.
Speaking about his participation for the Lagos Swimming team, Benson said:
“I was at the Port Harcourt festival for Lagos State, but I did not swim because I went with my seniors. I went there to understudy and gain experience”, he said.
“As a swimmer, you need that to build your own confidence”, he added.
“At Eko 2012, I won three silver medals and the feat was due to consistent training and care from the association. Then, we were well camped and we had our seniors in camp whom we learnt many things from and related well with them.
“We camped at Isheri Berger and they really took good care of us.
“The Eko festival was a really good festival. We were well prepared for that festival and if we can be having same preparation like we had for Eko 2012, we will be winning more medals for Lagos State in swimming.
“My performance at the Abuja 2018 did not really meet my expectations because of some untoward issues which we are still facing now, but we won medals as a team. The team then was powerful because we were a team but now, there is no more team”.
Speaking on the relationship between the athletes and officials of the swimming association and his exit, Benson said that it was practically impossible to have physical contact with the officials and that WhatsApp platform was the only means of communication.
“Before leaving the Lagos Swimming team in protest, I sent a message to the platform where coaches, technical team, staff and athletes do meet because they cannot see us face – to – face. They are always busy”, he said.
“They don’t see us physically and you cannot call them on a normal day that you want to see them. We always place our messages on the WhatsApp platform and they will respond.
“Even as the captain, it was difficult for me to see them. There is no direct contact.
“So, I dropped the message and told them about the reasons for my protest and the Chairman, Mr Adekoya, told me that I was free to leave, adding that he understands that they have not met our requests nor fulfiled promises made.
“Though, he also complained about my decision and expressed his disappointments, but he said he understands the reasons for my protest and I did tendered my apology for disappointing him.
“I see the officials in Lagos State Sports Commission as people who only care for athletes that win gold for them. You are nothing if you don’t, but they have forgotten that sport is a team events and there’s need for someone to carry the team along.
“So, I made mention that I wanted to leave on the platform and it was acknowledged by the Chairman who said that he understands my reasons and that I was free to leave”.
He said that his participation for the Bayelsa team in Edo was protested by the Lagos officials but that they later withdrew it.
He said that he never represented Bayelsa for any monetary gain but in protest for how he and other swimmers were being treated by the officials of the association.
“Unfortunately, Lagos State protested my appearance for Bayelsa in Edo on the ground that I am their swimmer but they later withdrew the protest.
“They actually submitted a letter to that effect but withdrew it because they too knew that they are not treating us well.
“I didn’t represent Bayelsa because of any promise or for any financial benefit but my own way of protesting treatment meted to swimmers which are not encouraging and that was why Lagos performed abysmally in swimming in Edo”.
He also spoke about his experience with the officials of the Lagos Swimming team which he described as not too good, particularly as it regards swimmers’ training and welfare.
“While I was with the team, Coach Goody told me that he cannot recognize me as a champion until I won a gold medal. To him, you are not his swimmer if you cannot win gold for him. But it’s not about winning gold but how they are preparing us for competitions”, he asked.
“Lagos State needs people with technical know – how to coach and supervise its swimmers. That is the only way they can get the best out of them.
“l had issues with the swimming technical director, Mr Goody, while we were training for the last sports festival. He and other officials don’t like me to speak for the team but to only keep quiet while things get bad.
“But I always speak out on behalf of my team and due to that, they had always attempted to remove me from the team. It was only the Swimming team’s Secretary, Mrs Fisayo, that always stood by me. She would tell them that I am one of the best swimmers that the association has.
“They did not care about me but I enjoyed the support of my team mates, especially Smart Olopele”.
When told that the LSSC Director (Technical) said that the Teslim Balogun Swimming pool has always been functional and open for swimmers, Benson said:
“If you really want to confirm my position, you can go to Teslim Balogun Stadium and confirm from the people working there if we have been training there. You can also engage my teammates too on this.
“Even, before I left the team to represent Bayelsa, we complained to the DG that the swimming pool was not in good condition and he promised that they would treat the pool but nothing was done.
“The only time that the pool is clean is when the Navy people want to make use of it. These Navy people always finance the treatment of the pool and after that, nothing is done again”, he said.
“I am from Lagos and now back in Lagos to see if there is going to be improvement. I hope that they will turn a new leave and start doing things that will be beneficial to us and if not, I will leave again. Sport is something that we use to achieve something great for ourselves, families and state”, he said.
Benson also presented his certificates of participation for the state at the Lagos State Sports Festival tagged, “IBILE 2010” (where he won 4 gold medals and 3 silver medals), 1st Annual Governor’s Swimming Competition and Lagos State 2020 Independence Age –Group Swimming Competition where he emerged first in six events.
He also represented Lagos at the Dr J.K. Randle Swimming Competition in 2008, 2011 Chief of Naval Staff (NNS) Open Swimming Championship and 2013 Lagos State Open Swimming Competition among many others.
The only swimming gold medalist for the Lagos contingent to the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Edo, Olopele Smart, also speaking with THE IMPACT on the embattled captain, said:
“Benson Philip is still my captain and the Lagos State Swimming team captain. He did very for the state at the Eko 2012 and even before the festival in Eko and from his age group up to his senior days, he was actually the best in his major which is freestyle which is known to everybody.
“He is still our captain and that is the recognition that we are still giving him.
“I was aware when he was leaving the team because he told me what were going on then. In truly, we lack training, care and some basic things that we need to perform as an athletes. There was no proper camping and we were just training on our own.
“He told me that he not wait any longer and he needs to move and prove to them that they are not managing us well.
“He even placed the message on the group chat where we have all the officials and athletes” he added.
Olopele who said that his achievement in Edo was through personal efforts also call on those in charge of the swimming association to ensure that adequate trainings are care are provided for the athletes to perform better.
