By Maduabuchi Kalu, Lagos on October 12, 2016

Christian Chukwu, former captain and coach of the national team, the Super Eagles, has commended the country’s sports after 56 years of the country’s independence from colonial masters, Britain.

In an exclusive telephone interview with Daily Sports, the former Enugu Rangers captain and coach said the country has really done well in sports despite the challenges confronting her.

He, however, admitted that we are not yet there, but that tremendous progress has been made which is worth celebrating. He pointed out that there has been massive development of sports facilities in the country within the period under review.

“Nigeria at 56, I would say that we have done pretty well though we are not there yet, but we have done well in my opinion particularly on the provision of modern facilities,” Chukwu said.

He added: “We have made progress despite the challenges that we have. We have been able to register our presence in the international sports arena. We have been able to win medals in international tournaments like the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

“We have the potential to reach greater height if only we will be able to put our acts together. We have the capacity to be the No. One Sporting Nation on the continent and equally occupy a respectable place in the global sporting community.

“In football to be precise, we have done well also but we still have room to improve on our achievements so far. Good enough we have tremendous talents in this country waiting to be discovered and harnessed for the good of the country.”

Speaking further, the Technical Director of the Flying Antelopes explained that despite the progress so far made in the provision of sports facilities, the country still has a long way to go in respect of administration.

He said sports administration was a sour point in the country’s sports development arguing that if we could get our acts together in sports administration, we will certainly take our pride of place in the comity of sporting nations.   

The former Harambee Stars of Kenya coach said that bad administration in sports was not restricted only to football but the entire sports industry.

His words: “Having said that however, I think that the greatest challenge we have as far as sports is concerned is that of administration.

“As far as I am concerned, the administration of our sports in this country is not right. It is not only in football but sports generally. I know what sports administration used to be in our time and what it is at the moment.

“Administration is the greatest challenge we have as far as sports is concerned. Once we get our sports administration right everything will fall in place. And I believe that the reason it is like this is because those at the helm of affairs or administrators are more concerned with what goes into their pockets than leaving a lasting legacy.

“We enjoyed administration during our days playing football because people were alive to their responsibilities. Administrators were passionate and committed to their jobs and things were working well and those administrators were Nigerians, there were not foreigners.”

•Photo shows Christian Chukwu.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 12, 2016

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