NIGERIA, SPORTS AND THE WAY BACKWARD......

By Perekeme Odon

Photo: Brazil Olympic Committee

Nothing can be done for Team Nigeria, unless God comes down from above. We are just too relaxed and unschooled with everything concerning mankind and humanity.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (第三十二回オ ンピック競技大会 Dai Sanjūni-kai Orinpikku Kyōgi Taikai) and   commonly known as Tokyo 2020, is a major international multi-sport event due to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games as governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC);and others countries are warming up seriously for it, in combination of the Brazil 2016 Olympics.

Eight years to win an Olympic medal is just too small. Champions are groomed from childhood. The 2016 Olympic in Brazil is here at our door steps starring at us, and some of us strongly believe Nigeria is going to perform wonders with our 'fire brigade' approach.I keep telling them that if we are not careful,even a silver will not come home with us.We may have a few bronze medals; or even finished with nothing.

                         Photo:National Sports Commission, Nigeria

As for 2020 Olympics, Nigeria should forget it and start planning ,preparing & training for 2024 & 2028, cause we can not meet up 2020. You don't expect our boxers, swimmers and athletes to go win medals while drinking 'pure water' and eating 'puff-puff ' during training sessions at our unequipped stadia and training centres. No training grants/funds or any kind of positive exposure or tour to heighten the spirits of the athletes' confidence. No sponsorship from wherever. Chioma Ajunwa's gold medal was just share luck of her hard work. She too never believed it when it happened,because she had not been consistent as a contender for an Olympic medal at the 1996 Olympic in Atlanta;but God gave it to her to wipe her tears, sorrows, troubles and sufferings for this battered nation. Our own Blessing Okagbere left this 'unencouraged' shore for foreign,that's why she's being celebrated today;but who knows what's going to happen to her at the 2016 Rio Olympics? Where are our national and state sports festivals? Where are the inter-house school sports competitions? Hmmmmm. We're joking with fire & uprising.

Mascot Vinicius_and_Tom Photo: Google

A former National Boxing Head Coach, Isaac Ikhuoria, expressed sadness over it. "Imagine,out of the 10 boxers – seven men and three women – that participated in the qualifying bouts at Yaoundé, Cameroon, only two qualified to represent Nigeria in Rio.The qualified boxers are Efe Ajagba and Caroline Linus". Nigeria is just 'big for nothing. Look at how the National Stadium in Lagos is today.Nothing to write home about. There are no camps for relaxations;not even a private training grounds by private individuals for athletes to pay & even train.Chai, this country is a big time failure in sports administration; including crime that we claim we are good at. Yes crime.Even looting and robbery have a style and pattern mapped out for them by professionals & experts;because the jobs & projects assigned need to be done first with no abandonment before frivolities.

My secondary school, Government Sea School, Isaka, Port Hartcourt, now Rivers State Sports Institute had almost 85% of all the sports that will be showcased at the 2016 Rio Olympics which we never developed. Is it today we are introduced to sports/games like golf, shot put, discuss, javelin, canoe-racing, handball, volley ball, badminton, horse-riding, hockey, judo, cricket, mention it. These sports were all there before independence in 1960, but we failed to develop them. What about the popular swimming? Once upon a time, Grasshopper of Owerri, Imo state was the best handball team in Africa,with the Grasshopper Handball stadium adorned in Owerri. Today, where is the handball club? We have so much works to do as a nation if we have to move forward.

Photo Credit: Google

We are leaving in a very crazy time,that is why it is very difficult to see any Nigerian flowing with the spirit of patriotism in him. Some felt we lost it long before now,but the wise ones knew we never even had one to show. Our leaders have been half baked right from inception & creation. Nothing to show for all these years they led us,but to teach us how to steal, loot our treasury,siphon & transfer fund abroad;teach us how to fight,hate & kill one another through religion & ethnicity. I may be called & addressed as a Nigerian outside this shore, but here in this 'yard',I'm not a proud a Nigerian, because the country don't care for its citizens.No social security & positive welfare packages to show its citizens; no long term policies to determine future plans & occurrences. Today,no Nigerian is worth dying for a nation acclaimed to be the 'Giant of Africa'.It is going to cost us all and take time for this nation to heal its wound.