Paris 2024 involves an finish immediately with an air of despondency and frustration for anybody related with Nigerian Sports activities. For these of us in attendance on the Video games, it’s much more deflating as a result of everyone knows this for a truth.
We’re higher than this.
To be sincere, it appears the entire ethos of our Sports activities Growth plan is geared in the direction of simply qualifying to make up the numbers. There isn’t a DELIBERATE, INTENTIONAL and WELL ARTICULATED technique geared in the direction of profitable look at main international sports activities competitions.
The best way issues are, and if the scenario continues, it’s IMPOSSIBLE for Nigeria to excel at these occasions with out correct, LONG TERM planning. Presently, the haphazard nature of our preparation for the Olympics can solely result in frustration and disappointment. Anticipating success whenever you don’t put within the work required over time is foolhardy at finest.
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To supply an Olympic Champion is a 7-10 yr plan. All of us get carried away with nationalistic fervour and emotion at competitions however it’s wishful considering to count on success with the current governance construction round Nigerian Sports activities which has produced highly effective people however very weak establishments with the Athletes on the backside of the precedence record.
Issues have gotten to vary. And rapidly too. In any other case we might be in the identical scenario 4 years down the road.
Sport Mirrors Life. There are merely no brief cuts to success. If we don’t execute a drastic change to the current governance constructions surrounding our Sports activities characterised by an absence of sincerity, highly effective entrenched pursuits, Sports activities Federation’s which are merely not match for objective, no strategic Elite Expertise Growth Program and worrying lack of concern for the welfare of the Athletes, the story would be the identical at LA 2028.
Easy as that…..
By Deji Omotoyinbo, in Paris
