We got a point as nation where we failed to live up to expectation in global games and athletic meetings mainly due to ...
We got a point as nation where we failed to live up to expectation in global games and athletic meetings mainly due to lack of credible preparation and improper timing of release of funds by its sports ministry we’ve barely ever had it this bad for our athletes.
Ever since Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria hasn’t produced an individual athlete capable of becoming a world beater .At a point in time we had our hopes on 100m Olusoji Fasuba, but it was dashed by the government’s defiance to sponsor him and hone his talent to greater heights.
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| Chioma Ajunwa |
However, with the rising profile of star athlete Blessing Okagbare in the mix of all these mishaps, it now seems we have a global sprint queen in the making.
Truth be told, Okagbare up until now had given us many reasons to doubt her ability as a top class athlete had faltered numerously on the big stage in previous occasions.
At the London 2012 Olympics when there was much expectation for a medal from her in the 100m due to her blistering form, she placed eighth. A year later at the World Championships in Moscow she placed sixth.
She pulled off brilliant performances at regular athletic meetings but always seemed to be overwhelmed on the biggest of stages. However at the just concluded Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow, Okagbare lit up like an Olympic torch and her glow now obvious to all.
In the 100m, she waltzed past her opponents in an almost casual manner with her nearest opponent Veronica Campbell- Brown nowhere in reach with a time of 10.85, breaking the games record of 10.91 seconds.
She had to dig deeper in the 200m to win against her opponents with Jodie Williams breathing down her neck but was able to hold it down till she crossed the finish line thereby becoming the fourth woman to win the 100m and 200m double at the Commonwealth Games.
Her exploits in Glasgow would definitely serve as a source of inspiration to the upcoming generation of talent most of whom seem to be losing interest in serving a nation which doesn’t give its talents the recognition it deserves.
Nigeria has lost many of its’ brightest athletes to other countries (as witnessed in the last Olympics) due to the nonchalant manner of it’s government in creating a platform for young talents to thrive.
However, Okagbare with perseverance and a selfless sense of duty has shone through the world such that the plaudit which she has been starved of by her own country, she is now getting from the outside world, forcing us to now rally behind her and be more supportive in the future.
I’m sure many didn’t expect this much from her at the commonwealth games after past performances but her patriotism put us all in shame. The fact that she faltered in the past didn’t imply that she won’t eventually pull through one day.
Even in her rough days we should’ve still stood by her and that’s the same shabby treatment we put across to many other athletes across other sports.
Nigeria, we never really do learn our lessons, do we?
We should learn to get behind our people regardless of their predicaments because what is ours is ours.
Article By: Nnamdi Churchill Mbajekwe
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