Nigeria Content Online

I found Honest
Man’s online comment on last week’s column interesting and encouraging.
Readers of this column know that I don’t usually respond to comments,
but I found this particular comment instructive, hence the need for us
to ride on its wave today. I thank you all for your comments.

The title may seem
repulsive, but that is one of the best ways to describe some of the
so-called sports administrators in this country today. But before I am
totally misunderstood, prostitution is not all about sex, it is also
about human beings degrading talents and potentials for money.

It can also be
correctly described as the use of skills or ability, in a way that is
considered unworthy, meaningless, fruitless and stupid, usually for
financial gain. This is what is going on in Nigerian sports today. Only
a few genuine and committed administrators are sincere about developing
sports.

Last week, we said inter-alia and I quote:

“A critical
assessment of football, table tennis, tennis and boxing, may offer us a
vivid picture of the unfortunate situation the country has been
shamefully situated. Football like most other sports in Nigeria is all
about noise and negative motions. Football management in Nigeria has
been so compromised that it will take the divine intervention of God
Almighty for the beautiful game to be rescued from the grip of the
cabal who seem to be in charge presently – albeit, illegitimately.

Whereas billions of
tax payers’ monies are being INTENTIONALLY wasted on football
promotion, the foundation on which the PYRAMID of football development
is built, has been stupidly and ignorantly ignored. This has been
responsible for the spate of age falsification at the age-grade
level… no developmental structure put in place, that can encourage
our children who have been naturally and divinely endowed with massive
potentials, not only to pursue football playing as a career, but also
aspire to become future leaders of this Country, using the values of
football as a platform.” The words intentionally and pyramid were
highlighted in this write up for several reasons, permit me to explain.
The truth of the matter is that it is not as if those in charge of
sports administration in Nigeria are absolutely ignorant of what to do,
especially at the grassroots level. Exactly four years ago, the
erstwhile President of the Nigerian Schools Sports Federation (NSSF),
was invited to attend a training programme organized by the
International Confederation of Futebol de Salao (ICFDS), for coaches
and franchisees of the Brazilian Soccer Schools. I facilitated his
attendance, so that he would have a first-hand experience of the
methodologies put in place in Europe, Asia, North and South America,
for early identification of talents, supported by relevant/functional
training, aimed primarily at grooming the identified talents, from 6
MONTHS old children to those of 17 YEARS. Yes, 6 MONTHS old children,
it was no mistake. The programme for them is called SOCATOTS.

A fragile pyramid
We were together in Leeds for the one-week programme. I assumed that on
arrival back home, the next thing was to look into how we would
actualize the reasons for which we invited the NSSF President to the
training programme. I was wrong. What followed was a Schools’ Sports
Festival, sponsored by Babatunde Raji Fashola. Would the reader say he
did not know what to do, or that he did not have access to funds?

Whereas we can
refer to a very fragile and sick PYRAMID in place for football, there
is alarmingly, nothing like that for so many other sports. Not even
Basketball or Table Tennis, or even Wrestling – that is the cheapest of
all the sports in Nigeria. Cheapest, because it does not require big
budget for equipment and kits. Even the space needed for the game is
available naturally.

Is it any surprise
that boxing is no longer a source of pride and glory to Nigeria? It
should not at all. There is absolutely nothing at the grassroots –
apart from the individual efforts of a few committed individuals like
Coach Joe Mensah, to develop Boxing in Nigeria.

Whereas in nations
like Cuba, Brazil, the U.S.A., Asia and some European nations, children
are introduced to this combat sport from the age-grade level, there is
nothing like that here. There is no mention of combat sports in our
schools sports, so it is not possible for us to catch them young.
Meanwhile, boxing like wrestling, is another natural game we play in
this part of the world.

Parents with male children within the 2-7 age bracket will attest to this.

Watch those
children settle scores amongst themselves, it is either via boxing or
wrestling and it is the younger ones who will always throw the first
punch or grab the neck or leg of the older ones.

Please visit our National Stadiums – either in Lagos or Abuja, and check what we refer to as the boxing gym.

You will either
laugh or cry, depending on your emotional strength and your passion for
the game. Is there any state-of-the-art boxing gymnasium anywhere in
this great nation? How many boxing trainers and coaches, recognised by
any of the world boxing bodies, can we boast of in Nigeria?

Permit us to end
this write-up on a very positive note. I observe that it is only when
we find ourselves in a “box” or very tight corner that we remember to
bring God into the matter. No one seems to remember Him now, especially
as the year is fast running to an end. But when there is the need for
Nigeria to qualify for a Continental or Global competition, we call on
Him to help us. We even fast and hold vigils.

Those of us in Save
Nigerian Sports Initiative (SANSI), do not believe it should be so.
Please join us as we thank Him for all He has done for Nigerian Sports
this year. Then pray that God should continue to uproot all the plants
He has planted in Nigerian Sports, so that the year 2011 will mark the
beginning of a decade of genuine, sincere, transparent, effective and
functional sports development in this great nation.

2011 will also
usher in God-fearing sports administrators/managers, who will effect
the changes sports loving Nigerians are clamouring for. Please say Amen.

Thank you.