By Victor Enyinnaya on June 6, 2022

You see, discussing about any topical issue (s) in Nigeria is like wasting one’s time because everything that has been happening in Nigerian athletics cum other sports world are safe inflicted.

In sports for instance, the steady decline that eventually visited the sub-sector is no surprise to keen observers’ and commentators alike. It has been around us but because Nigeria is a country that gathers her geologists on the eve of long predicted earthquake nothing matters to her.

If one looks back and remembered how Nigerian athletes used to tower in international meets to admiration of other competitors you can as well weep for the giant for nothing of Africa. Those brighter days or if you like golden era showcased strength, patriotism to die for fatherland,  In short, to the extent that the fear of Nigerian athletes became the beginning of wisdom for even American, Bahamas

  Jamaica and English athletes. That was those good old days. It was not sustained due to corrupt practices that took the centre stage. I remembered Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games as if it was yesterday when it was Nigeria all the way. When this reporter and others that covered the Games where so proud to be called Nigerians. Where wearing Green White Green colours were pride in its highest safe. From track and field to football. This regime that scores lowest in all indices kept the decline processes that have hit our sports thus far in all time high.

There was a time Nigeria had at least three athletes in the finals of athletics event in international meets in men and women categories. When Chidi Imo, Olapade Adenike, Ezenwa brothers etc, Mary  Onyali, Faliat Ogunkoya etc but look at now what we have often witnessed is the shame of Nigeria.

Note that they were competing based on their natural strengths not through drugs enhancement.  It was fun to cover athletes those great old days both during the Mobil Athletics Trials in National Stadium Lagos then and then international meet proper. It was overwhelming to behold our athletes in high spirit on tracks burning them for honour and wholehearted for the love of theirs fatherland.

Sadly, curious but true these descriptions have long vanished into the tin air in Nigerian sports. Even in the continent where 100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x400 men and women were like Nigeria’s birth right where are they now? They have all turned like nightmare to the present day Nigerian sports.

How did things go this wrong? Why did things go astray like this? There is deep missing link. There seems to be no solution to it. African countries have braced up and over took Nigeria that used to be the toast of all eyes when it comes to the above mentioned events. We have lost our bearing via dubious associated with administrators of the various Sports Federations and nothing, absolutely nothing concrete is being done towards its redemption.

Both the administrators and the authorities’ are totally confused and things have been looking downwards thus far.

Sports like other sectors in the present Nigeria are on their knees. The bogs the present Mahammadu Buhari and his All Progressive Congress (APC) are leading Nigerians into have robbed off negatively. No respite. Nigerians have been subdued. Every common man has no rest or knows where the next meal for the family would come from.

Sports which have served as breather to us have been wiped out via corruption in high places and the issue (s) that led to this is/are not been addressed. It is a dangerous sign ahead. Our young oness that looked up ex-international athletes as role models have no future. They daily being ravaged by hunger, deprivation of all sorts one is often tempted to ask where is their refuge.  

We will continue to be in the forefront of saying it as it should. Let us keep our fingers crossed and pray that new dawn will take hold sooner than later. Daily Sports, hold-no-barred. Keep shooting hard till next week. Meanwhile, we wait!!

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted June 5, 2022

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