-By Saidu Abubakar
Blessing Oborududu’s silver medal in wrestling and Ese Brume’s bronze medal in the long jump at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympic Games may not really be seen to change the narrative for Nigeria. They may only affirm the country being, once more, in its usual terrain among the comity of nations inclined to sports.
It is not an uncommon knowledge that our preparations towards most international sporting events are characterised by myriads of avoidable problems – ranging from planning, release of funds, management of the funds, as well as kitting and disbursement of athletes’ stipends. Added to the aforementioned in Tokyo was an alleged internal wrangling among the federations’ officials. All these are factors that are attributable to potential monumental failures. The unfortunate disqualification of our athletes during the Games succeeded in exposing the ingenuity of our so-called ‘technocrat’ officials.
Imagine who was in Tokyo as the Sports Minister’s Special Assistant (Technical), and who, as the Ministry of Sport’s director in charge of sports that ought to have ensured synergy amongst federations, athletes and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), to forestall a shame of this magnitude. One would be surprised, if this disgrace is not investigated, and those found wanting are punished accordingly.
In serious climes, this singular international shameful act in Tokyo cannot go unpunished. There must be investigations, and the necessary actions and precautions must be taken, because sports is a sector that is capital intensive.
When and how can we get it right?
Thanks to Oborududu and Brume for their patriotic efforts. They were not deterred by the shameful disqualification that hit 10 members of Team Nigeria in Tokyo.
The torpedo could not have come at a better time as it ought to have been perceptible by the Nigerian officials under the watch of the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, but was rather concealed for the worse to happen – and it really did.
In the not too distant past, whether right or wrong, Team Nigeria to Olympics, Commonwealth Games and All-Africa Games enjoyed some level of preparedness, beginning with local camping, including foreign training, as the case may be, on the state-of-the-art equipment that have eluded Nigeria. Not anymore. Rather what characterise some federations are internal wrangling to the detriment of the athletes. Little wonder why Nigerian sportsmen and women cross over to other countries for greener pastures, to the extent of competing against their compatriots at events, as happened in Tokyo.
At the end of the 16-day quadrennial sporting fiesta, the United States of America came first, with a total medal haul of 113, made up of 39 Gold, 41 Silver and 33 Bronze. China came second, with a total of 88 medals, made up of 38 Gold, 32 Silver and 18 Bronze. The host country, Japan, won 27 Gold, 14 Silver and 17 Bronze, amounting to a total of 58 medals, to come third on the medal log. Nigeria placed 74th in the world, and eighth in Africa, having won only one Silver and one Bronze medals.
This, categorically underscores a point that there is yet to be good riddance to bad rubbish as a result of poor preparation by naive sports administration, which entangles Nigeria, despite being blessed with abundant talents – some of which rot away untapped due to archaic approaches.
The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta remains Nigeria’s most famous and outstanding runs in the history of the quadrennial event, with the gold-winning male football team believed to be one of the country’s most successful Olympic sides, holding one of the three gold medals that were won.
However, both male and female national football teams missed out of action, after failing to scale through qualification to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
This is against the backdrop of Nigerians’ dream that Team Nigeria would be looking to add to its silverware of 25 Olympic medals so far.
Since her debut at the games in 1952, Nigeria only boasts of winning three Gold, 10 Silver and 12 Bronze medals.
Team Nigeria performed poorly at the previous two Olympics, winning only one bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and none at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Here is a complete list of all the 60 Athletes that represented Nigeria at Tokyo 2020 Olympics:
Athletics
1. Enoch Adegoke
2. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
3. Divine Oduduru
4. Usheoritse Itsekiri
5. Samson Nathaniel
6. Chidi Okezie
7. Tobi Amusan
8. Ese Brume
9. Blessing Okagbare
10. Favour Ofili
11. Rosemary Chukwuma
12. Patience Okon-George
13. Ruth Usoro
14. Grace Nwokocha
15. Glory Patrick
16. Knowledge Omovoh
17. Nse Imaobong Uko
18. Chioma Onyekwere
Badminton
19. Annette Echikunwoke
20. Godwin Olofua
21. Juwon Anuoluwapo Opeyori
22. Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan
Basketball (Men)
23. Caleb Agada
24. Precious Achiuwa
25. Ike Ireogbu
26. Chimezie Metu
27. Jordan Nwora
28. Jahlil Okafor
29. Josh Okogie
30. Stan Okoye
31. Chikezie Okpala
32. Olumiye Oni
33. Ekpe Udoh
34. Nnamdi Vincent
Women
35. Promise Amukamara
36. Oderah Chidom
37. Adara Elonu
38. Ify lbekwe
39. Ezinne Kalu
40. Aisha Mohammed
41. Erica Ogwumike
42. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah
43. Nneka Ogwumike
44. Atonye Nyingifa
45. Nnenna Amy Okonkwo
46. Elizabeth Williams
Canoe Sprint
47. Emmanuel Ayomide Bello
Rowing
48. Esther Oko
Swimming
49. Abiola Ogunbanwo
Table Tennis
50. Aruna Quadri
51. Olajide Omotayo
52. Offiong Edem
53. Funke Oshonaike
Taekwondo
54. Oluchi Elizabeth Anyanacho
Wrestling
55. Ekerekeme Agiomor
56. Odunayo Adekuoroye
57. Aminat Adeniyi
58. Blessing Oborududu
59. Adijat ldris
Artistic Gymnastics
60. Uche Eke