The commissioner for sports in Bayelsa State and former president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Honourable Daniel Igali, has raised eyebrows over what he referred to as ‘unusual circumstances’ concerning this year’s National Sports Festival.
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Sports247 reports that, while asserting that his state will excel at the festival, which is scheduled to be held later this month in Enugu and already tagged Coal City Games 2026, Igali wondered why many formalities are yet to be completed.
Igali’s comments may be seen as a reflection of doubt that is spreading across certain administrative and political circles regarding a possible postponement of the festival to a later date, but the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games wrestling gold medalist stopped short of stating so categorically.
He pointed out that certain registration and accreditation issues that should have been finalised long ago have just begun, but asserted that Bayelsa State will overcome all obstacles in order to excel when the Festival eventually takes place in The Coal City.
Igali, who also won wrestling gold for Canada at the 2002 Commonwealth Games declared, “Bayelsa State is relatively well prepared, considering the unusual circumstances surrounding this edition of the National Sports Festival.
“Ordinarily, processes such as athlete registration and other similar things are done like two months before the festival. But, this time, many of these activities are taking place right about now, barely a month before the festival.
“Even the readiness of the host state Enugu is yet to be fully ascertained, although facility inspections, I think, just took place a couple of days ago. Also, the number of sports has been significantly reduced. So, this is a different kind of sports festival.”
Sports247 reports further that Igali’s words come barely 72 hours after National Sports Commission (NSC) director-general, Honourable Bukola Olopade came out with another emphatic statement that Coal City 2026 will not be postponed, despite physical realities across the Enugu State capital pointing to the contrary.
