When the buzzer
sounded for the end of
the match between
D’Tigers and the USA
basketball team on
Friday morning, August
3, 2012 at the North
Greenwich Arena, I had
a sinking feeling, but it
was not because
Nigeria had been beaten
by an Olympic record
score – it was the
expectation that had
been busted when the
boys qualified the
country for her first
ever appearance in the
Olympics. But the more
familiar feeling was the
weight of expectation
on the players when
they had not been
prepared enough to
match the team from
the United States.
Whereas the USA
basketball team are a
bunch of millionaire
basketball starts who
play together in the
toughest basketball
championship in the
world, the Nigerian
team was made up of
high school basketball
players and more
journey man players
who have traversed the
world in search of the
money to keep their
families. Unfortunately,
they came up against a
better prepared team
that have been
together since their high
school days even
though they do not
appear for the same
team.
But let us leave that
defeat aside, however
very painful it was, and
look at the big picture.
Those boys were
gathered together in
say six weeks, and
what they possess in
abundance is passion.
However, like we all
know, you need
preparation to meet
skill, and passion to
equal success.
No preparation
equals no medals
That has been absent
since the 80s when
sports administrators
were real egg-heads
with a passion for their
work and pride in their
country, which is a lot
more than we can say
concerning the current
crop of "greed is good
administrators" who
are always thinking of
what can be made and
not what can be given.
Every four years, before
we air our dirty linen in
public at the Olympics or
the World Cup or in one
qualifier or the other,
our administrators talk
about early
preparations for the
next sports fiesta but
that is all it is – talk!
We won our very first
medals in the Olympics
in boxing, but that sport
is all but dead in the
country – a visit to the
Brai Ayonote
gymnasium at the
National Stadium will
confirm that assertion.
The swimming pool in
Surulere has been under
lock and key for like 13
years with the padlocks
on the gates rusted.
The spot that boasts
the largest patronage
at the stadium is a fish
joint while the main
bowl is just that – a
bowl without contents.
So, as we wobble and
fumble to another
sports embarrassment
in London, let us spare a
thought for the
athletes, who in their
hearts want to do
better but when they
come into opposition
with better prepared
athletes, they fall short.
And like Felix Ekpo said:
“You can't win gold at
the Olympics by
hurriedly preparing and
going for last minute
camping. Here, at the
Olympics, you hear
athletes saying that
they prepared for four
or five years and you
feel out of place.”
And if we really have to
compare, we should
test our administrators
against those from
Kenya, South Africa and
Jamaica and let us see
whether they will not
be relieved of their
duties.
Now, the athletics
events will start today
and Nigeria's hopes of
getting a medal
irrespective of its colour
rests on our athletes
doing their best – more
than their best – to
make sure that our
country's name appears
on the medals log.
Ekpo also said, “You
know that only God can
help you; and, with a
feeling, you strive that
the best comes out of
you. Someday, we will
get it right in Nigeria.”
But now, it is time to
pray!
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