By Daily Sports on June 6, 2016

In every segment since the advent of the present government, Nigerians have witnessed more of all motion no movement and sports is no exception.

In short, the Muhammadu Buhari government has not given clear-cut policy of his administration in various sectors; such is also the lot of the sports sector. The sparing wins the country recorded under his watch came off the sheer resilient spirit of athletes’ and their technical men and women.

Whereas the advent of democracy in other climes is hyped to bring about the much desired positive change, sadly for Nigeria, especially since the past one year, the citizenry have been under the yoke of cuffs in all facets. The people have been forced to ask: Buhari, when will these pains end? Shamefully, the government is still very much involved in the blame game.

However, this analysis will strictly restrict itself to sports sector where sportsmen, women, coaches and stakeholders are yet to see the anticipated alteration that they so much imagined since May 29, 2015.

Most of the achievements witnessed in the history of the sports sector had come before May 29, 1999 and the nation’s successive democratic governments, since then, have continued to pay lip service to the development of a sector which has proven to be a source of unity for the country. Sports have demonstrated times without number that the country can indeed be united on a common ground.

Nigerians will never forget the country’s feat at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. They will forever remember it as the golden era of Nigerian sports where the U-23 Eagles led by Kanu Nwankwo won the football gold medal, and Chioma Ajunwa-Opara won the country’s first individual gold medal till date. Others that did the country proud include Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Deji Aliu, late Sunday Bada, Falilat Ogunkoya, and others who won laurels for the country in major championships.

In truth, Nigerian sports are suffering from heavy burden that include rotting and decaying sports facilities. The country’s sports face an outburst of challenges. It is safe to postulate that the country’s sports sector is yet to gain from democracy.

Without mincing words, sports generally in the nation haven’t witnessed much change under democracy. It has been a far cry from what we expected when the democratic wind took grasp on May 29, 1999.

For instance, football, the most admired game in the country, has certainly declined in opulence, and your guess is as good as mine as for the fate of other sports. Head or tail, the Buhari-led government needs to do extra if the country must harness the gains in sports.

We all know what sports can do for our youths in times like this, gainfully engage them, and drastically reduce crime and make them income earners. It is also obvious that many youth-friendly policies that were on ground before are presently no longer there, thereby not creating enabling setting for sports and our youths to thrive.

The sector actually needs wholesome change to achieve the gains. Sports in the country have also proven to be a viable means of employment but that aspect is to be fully harnessed. The bane of the sector remains that it has oftentimes witnessed more lip service than real.

However, under democracy in football, Nigeria won AFCON for the third time in 2013 – after a 19-year waiting game – but the Super Eagles have failed to qualify back to back for two editions of the AFCON. They failed to make it to Equatorial Guinea in 2015, and then lost out in the race for Gabon 2017 after losing the lone group ticket to Egypt.

Also, the Golden Eaglets – U-17 football squad, won the FIFA U-17 World Cup back to back in 2013 and 2015. The national U-20 team won the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and the national U-23 Eagles aside being kings in Africa also picked Rio 2016 Olympics slot. The Super Falcons, although failed to qualify for the Rio Games, won the CAF Africa Women’s Championship in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2014.

In Basketball, the national men’s side, D’Tigers, won the Afrobasketball for the first time in 2015 – booking a spot for Rio 2016 Games – and the D’Tigress, the women version, are on the threshold of sealing ticket for Rio.

In Athletics, the country’s leading athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has won medals for the nation in the track meets. Other athletes like Uchenna Emedolu, Olusoji Fasuba, Divine Oduduru, Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, among others, have also excelled in the country’s colours in the last 17 years of democracy.

Remember how Wellington Jighere put Nigeria’s name on the world map in Scrabble in 2015 when he became the World Champion? In Table Tennis, Aruna Quadri, Segun Toriola, Funke Oshonaike and the national Table Tennis team are also doing the country proud alongside other junior players. Toriola equally created an African record by becoming the first athlete to qualify for seven consecutive Olympics.

In Wrestling, Odunayo Adekuoroye and his team have also qualified for the Olympics alongside Rowing, Boxing and Athletics.

It would be recalled that after a good outing at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the country failed to win any medal at the London 2012 Olympics despite triumphs at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games and also at the Africa Games.

Now with the Rio Games drawing nearer than ever glumly the preparations for it is at the lowest ebb, keen watchers of Nigerian sports declared the country is yet to learn from her past blunders even under democracy.

Despite the fact the nation has attained some good measure of successes in major championships; one of the main challenges is the lack of capable hands in the sports ministry. Surely, past ministers of sports have been roundly criticised for their focusing only on football at the cost of other sports.

Solomon Dalung that took over from Tammy Danagogo has been having intense bashing, he perhaps being the reason for the present administration’s inability to have a clear-cut policy on sports and lack of leadership for the sector. Dalung has also been receiving blows for the way and manner he handled the Nigeria Football Federation leadership tussle of which CAF just settled. Ahmed Gara-Gombe, a former chairman of the Gombe State Football Association, did not mince words when said sports are being led by the nose by Dalung as there is categorically nothing to spree for.

According to him, Dalung is the worst Sports Minister ever seen in this vital sector. He lacks ideas and cannot move the sector forward. If he is not removed he will destroy what is left of Nigerian sports. He is busy traveling around the world even as Nigerian sports are dying gradually.

Beyond the chronic challenges facing the sector, the raging storm over the missing N2.9bn remains the prime nuisance to patrons of this sector as the failure of the ministry to vividly account for the money has finally wrecked Nigeria’s preparations for the Rio Olympics.

Every sport that qualified for the Rio Games is belligerent with getting their athletes ready for Olympics. Yes, we are achieving some successes despite man-made obstacles all over in the sector cum Nigeria gives glimmer of hope that if precise steps are taken, the country will be persistent in sports.

For the Rio Olympics, it’s already obvious that the nation will make do with what she has and see how far that goes in Brazil. But funding remains the foremost problem of sports in Nigeria. The condition under which our athletes train leaves a sour taste in the mouth yet with perseverance they excel. Incidentally, Nigerians were deceived to enter one chance and a one-door vehicle since May 29, 2015 – a government of arms twisting, fabrications, deceits, whoopla and all. Nigeria, we HELL (hail) thee!

•Victor Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055068145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.com.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 6, 2016

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