Vows to fight ‘rebel’ federation leaders

Ignace Beraho may not be planning to seek a third term as president of the National Olympics Committee but has vowed to stand in the way of any ‘rebel’ federation leaders hoping to replace him.

Beraho has been at the helm of the local Olympics body for the past eight years of the mandatory two four-year terms as the committee’s constitution stipulates.

And as he prepares to hand over the button to his successor, alarm bells have started going off in regards to who will take over the mantle.

Inked by the fact that he was actually addressing a half empty conference room during NOC’s extra-ordinary general assembly last weekend at Novotel, the RNOC boss warned those looking forward to the elections anytime soon to forget it.

He said, "It amazes me when people start talking of election being held three months after the Olympic Games as if it’s written anywhere.”

In his usual uncompromising mood, the veteran sports administrator who’s no stranger to controversy warned, "Any federation that does not respect the rules that govern RNOC will never be allowed to participate in any election exercise.”
Beraho reiterated that he has no desire to stand for an unprecedented third term of office, but cautioned, "Even if I don’t intend to stand for re-election, am ready to stand in the way of anybody planning to stand to be elected when they don’t have clear plans for the development of sports in the country.”

The National Olympics Committee is made up of 25 federations/associations but it was shocking that barely half of that attended the meeting that was discussing important issues of shared interest.

They were discussing RNOC’s Jurisdiction and Ethics commission report, which uncovered damning findings that include the fact that all but two local sports federations/associations exist and operate illegally.

Even RNOC is illegal! Only athletics, volleyball, basketball, karate, chess, cycling, table tennis, traditional dances and ASCOKI were present. The notable absentee was the football federation, Ferwafa, who for unknown reasons rarely attend NOC meetings.

Ferwafa and many other local sports federations and associations only appear during the time of elections but Beraho wants an immediate change to what he described as "unacceptable” conducts.

"How can you come up and present yourself to be elected as NOC president when you even don’t know what you’re standing for, what you’re representing or even what you want,” he wondered as those in attendance nodded their heads in agreement with him.

Beraho warned those he described as ‘rebel’ federation leaders who’d do anything and everything possible to undermine him and what he represents.

"If you don’t like me and what I represent, then don’t let it affect the way you carry your responsibilities at the federation level, sports doesn’t need people like that. We must be able to put aside personal resentments and work for a general cause,” he stressed.

There’s a general feeling among Beraho sympathizers that some federation leaders are against him to the extent that they shun NOC meetings or deliberately refuse to get their federation in order as a way of sabotaging his work.

Ends