The dismal performance of Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been attributed to the absence of Phychologists in the team.
Speaking at the annual National Conference of the Sports Phychologists Association of Nigeria (SPAN) held at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Lagos on Wednesday, Professor Clement Fasan who presented the lead paper said Nigeria would have fared better if Team Nigeria had been attached with Sports Phychologist.
Speaking under the theme: “Optimising Athletes Performance and Wellbeing: Challenges for Sports Stakeholders in the 21st Century”, Professor Fasan said “We canot talk of optimising athletes performance without their well-being or welfare. Athletes are fragile and have expiring dates. They are susceptible to injury which can be vital and cut short their career.
“We must develop programs and incentive methodologies to cater for their well-being and welfare. Without the help of Phychologist, the athletes canot achieve much.”
Speaking in the same vein, Professor Seun Omotayo said, “Both success and failure need to be managed. Tobi Amusan’s failure was due to lack of phychological management. Sports is scientific without which talent and technique would not count for much. Coaching is an integral part of coaching philosophy.”
In his remarks, Director-General of NIS Professor Olawale Moronkola said the event is coming at a most auspicious time when Nigerian Sports is under scrutiny due to their poor performance in Paris.
“The theme is timely in the quest of all stakeholders in sports industry to propel better the fortunes of sports in all ramifications on Nigeria for better podium success in national and international competitions.
“We must take advantage of this event to correct alot of things that has gone wrong in our sports.”
