By Augustine Kalu on February 2, 2017

Renowned athletics coach Tobia Igwe popularly known in sports circles as 'Toblow' has decried the poor state of Nigeria’s athletics which before now used to be the powerhouse of the country in international championships.

According to the man with the athletics Midas touch, when it comes to the discovery and nurturing of talents in athletics, it is very sad that the country’s athletics are in such a precarious state that Nigeria can’t win medals in athletics in international championships like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games.

He recalled how he made the country proud by discovering and harnessing the raw talents of many athletes that wrote the country’s name in athletics world map.

The Imo State-born athletics tactician did not end in lamenting the sorry state of the country’s athletics rather he pointed the way out of the quagmire that the country finds itself in athletics.

“It is most unfortunate to say the least; the sorry state of athletics in Nigeria today. Any time I remembered the golden era of athletics which I am very proud to have played a very crucial role, my heart bleeds,” Coach Igwe stated.

“I don’t want to be seen as blowing my trumpet but the truth of the matter is you can’t talk of the golden era of athletics in this country without my name featuring prominently because most of the athletes that put the country’s name in athletics world map passed through me.

Continuing, Toblow as he is fondly called by his admirers blamed lack of recognition of his worth by those who are in position of authority as being responsible for the sorry state of athletics in Nigeria. He explained that after helping the country achieve a lot in athletics, he was discarded by those in authority. He said that had those in positions of authority known his worth and others like him in other aspects of the country’s sports, the country’s athletics fortune and sports in general would have nose-dived.

He queried the rationale behind the appointment of Eric Campbell as the national athletics coach, somebody who was sent packing from Saudi Arabia probably due to lack of performance as the national athletics coach when someone like him is still very much around and willing to serve his fatherland.

“It is painful that in this country we do not value what we have. That is why all my contributions in athletics are not being recognised by those in authority. If those in authority had known my worth, I don’t think that they would have gone for Eric Campbell who was sacked by Saudi Arabia probably because of lack of performance while someone who has achieved a lot for the country is here languishing.

“I want to challenge the authorities to engage me for two years if there is no significant change in Nigerian athletics; then they get their job back. I yearn for opportunity to turn around the fortunes of athletics in the country.

“The people they have at the helm of affairs are people who do not have any name. I have a name as far as athletics in this country is concerned.

“I have discovered and nurtured a number of athletes who made the country proud in the past and given the same opportunity I will even do more because I have more experience now and I have read more. So, I am even more equipped now than before to reposition athletics in this country.

“Some of the athletes who passed through me or I discovered include Gloria Alozie, Mary Onyeali Omagbemi, Chidi Imo, Tunde Thompson, Uchenna Emedolu who I discovered from football, the Ezinwa brother etc.

“As athletics coach, my wards were dusting foreign-based athletes and the records are there for all to see. So, if Evangelist Solomon Ogba, the President of AFN and the Sports Minister and Youth Minister Development want to reposition and bring back the lost glory of athletics, they should challenge me by giving me a two year appointment to turn around the fortunes of athletics in this country,” Coach Igwe stressed.

•Photo shows Coach Tobia Igwe

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 2, 2017

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