Nigerian athletes are about to make another remarkable history in Budapest, Hungary, where the World Athletics Championship will be hosted. It is gratifying to recall the graceful handshake and reception accorded to our athletes who participated in Birmingham, UK, championship, that attracted an honoured reception held for them at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Presidential Villa by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Our gallant athletes, who competed clean and outstandingly in Birmingham, will not forget in a hurry the plethora of dignitaries that graced the reception and the cheering sporting personalities that were present to reckon with their successful performances.
Black athletes generally improved on their performances at the games and were captivating. In fact, credit should be given to whoever coined the saying that “black is beautiful“. This truism is not only in sports; actually it is proven and accepted even in other spheres of relationships that “Black indeed is beautiful”. Although this ebony natural colour of Blacks is widely taunted by some people and traducers who seek to have performances of blacks rubbished or diminished, they fail to reckon with the God factor who dispenses rewards according to the scripture which says “for whom God will bless, he will bless.”
The outing of our athletes at Birmingham largely showcased them to the global sports world as reliable, resourceful persons thus making them deserving of the motivation of former President Buhari thereby exemplifying the logic of ‘give and take’ in sports. Such motivations without doubt keep the athletes on track and primed for another clarion call from both the country and sports management.
As a golden opportunity manifests for another sporting representation in Budapest this month, the unquenchable determination of our athletes coupled with the effective and strong supporting presence of delegates from the country, is where the victory starts that will lead to their eventual domination of their contending peers in the global world of sports.
Interestingly, the country’s participation at the Commonwealth Games brought 35 medals, comprising, 12 gold, 9 silvers and 14 bronze. In the forthcoming 2023 World Athletics Championships, the athletes look forward to competing in 100m men, 200m men, 400m men, 400m hurdles men, short put men, 4 x 100m 100m women, 200m women, 400 women, discuss women, hammer women, 4x100m women, 4x400m women and 4x400m mixed.
The strong motivation of our athletes in this championship, however, is the fact that the Permanent Secretary, MInistry of Sports, Alhaji Ismailia Abubakar, has not only made early arrangements for procurement of visas and allowances to be paid without delay. He has also ensured that their kits and tickets are ready ahead of time.
The director in charge of sports in the ministry, Dr Simon Egbojaye, has significantly shown professionalism in early preparation of athletes and events since he assumed duty. His short term operational management of the different sports has turned things around for the better, and idealistically making sporting activities the envy of other fields of career.
Moreso, the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Rita Mosinde, is amiably intelligent and being looked up to as one of the persons that knows how to keep the athletes always focused. She is widely accepted by the management of sports and athletes, having played comprehensive leadership role in the co-ordination of sporting events and the athletes.
Meanwhile, the colourful kit of this year’s outing in Hungary is sure to make our athletes the cynosure of all eyes and give them an edge that will make them constitute a threat to others at the relay curve.
Sports as we know is a strong arm of defense to the youths and its prerequisites for glory include the discovery of one’s ability in specific areas of sports. It does not require much finance or dependence to excel, it requires discovery by a good coach, determination, discipline, drug-free and other forms of unruly behaviour for a lasting laughter to be achieved. Sport is an area that makes one very attractive to all, particularly the family and government.
It is also imperative for the coaches to guide and direct their athletes well in a manner that greed for money and undue zeal to travel will not lead them into making mistakes of misguidance that could be detrimental to their dreams and image. These youths look forward to their own eventual victory being appreciated with the honours of Order of the Niger (OON) and other prestigious awards such as had been accorded to those before them and which will pave way for their generations unborn.
Benefits of good performances are numerous. They will also encourage private partners and corporate bodies to adopt and sponsor athletes who excel for advanced training. Their sterling performances at the podium’s table will, definitely, attract cash prizes knowing that the President Bola Tinubu is ever willing to encourage and empower youths in any of their chosen relevant fields.
At this juncture, it is important to reiterate that the world athletics body has its rules and regulations for Elites World Records breakers like Tobi Amusan, who has broken world record three consecutive times. The regulations however make it mandatory for the movement and position such athletes (world record breakers) to be strictly monitored. Nigeria is one of the countries with over 30 athletes in that category. Because they are elite world athletes, they are privileged to participate in the Golden League. The world body creates a platform for them which serves as an e-mail and tracks their movements.
For the benefit of my dear readers there are two major tests that are required to be carried out on the athletes. The first is the in-competition test which is a doping test performed in connection with a competition event, unless stipulated otherwise by an international or concerned anti-doping organisation. The period begins at 11.59 on the night before the competition the athletes is participating in and ends after the competition.
The second is out-of-competition test where samples are tested for anabolic agents, peptide hormones, growth factors and similar compounds, B2- agonists, hormone and metabolic modulators, diuretics and other masking agents as well as all prohibited methods. But one will ask why on three consecutive times Tobi Amusa could not be found in her address of location and did not see reasons to contact the world body on her absence for the AlU’s test violation.
With regards to the above, one wonders if our Nigerian board members in world athletics body could not have intervened for the possibility of the world body to ex-ray Amusan’s case and temper justice with mercy, to enable her participate in the forthcoming Budapest championships. Also, one would wonder if coaches are not aware of these rules and regulations to enable them guide the athletes accordingly. The actions of Amusan opens one’s eyes and reasoning to the questions of management of the athletes at that level where there should be synergy between the sports management and coaches, and the need for a psychologist and counselor in their career progression. The silence of Amusan to AlU’s invitation makes her actions suspicious and this does not speak well of the country and sports management in totality.
Athletes in order federations are equally making the country proud in this season of championship, with more expectations from the Athletics Federation. In this vein, big congratulations to the FCT chapter of SWAN, the national body that has selected vibrant young men that understand sports and how to relate its prosecution to the general public.
Finally, the Chairman of House Committee on Sports, Mr. Ekene Adams, has through his meaningful relationship wth SWAN exhibited love for sports and encouraged the required synergy to achieve success. This is just like the new Benue state FA vhairman, Mr Iormen, who is boosting activities with his love for sports, that ought to be seen from its potential to motivate other states, stakeholders and sports lovers generally.
Felicia Mammah Nwokorie,
press officer, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Abuja
