The IAAF World Athletic Championships recently held in Berlin Germany, has come and gone, but not with some few lessons for the Nigerian contingent which could not muster the strength to grab any medal of any color.
To top the dismal performance of the Nigerian athletes, two of them: shot putter Vivian Chukwuemeka and sprinter Gloria Kemasuode were convicted of doping offenses.
In a championship that saw the reigning 100m World champion Usain Bolt breaking his own record in the 100m and 200m respectively, all the country could boost of, was a miserable performance characterized with injuries to top athlete Blessing Okagbare, drug cheating and dismal performances from Obinna Metu, Olusoji Fasuba, Egwero Ogho-Oghene and Ajoke Odumosu.
They all fell like pack of cards when the biggest occasion in the athletic world came calling.
The situation is not only pathetic, but indicative of the root Nigeria’s sports.
The blame should not only go to the athlete, as they could only offer what they had.
You can only give what you have!
The athletic Federation of Nigeria led by Chief Solomon Ogba, must be immediately investigated and made to explain what went wrong.
The Ministry of sports should also be made to share the blame of our shameful performance at Berlin.
It is not enough to produce local champions and go to the world stage, only to chicken out when faced with the like of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay.
What we need is a well articulated structure that will help groom athletes from the grassroots.
The National sports festival would have been a good haunting ground for our selectors, but this has be turned into a charade due to the use of overage athletes and banned substances.
It is no secret, that majority of athletes are involved in this illicit use of banned substances, even at the sports festival and at major national championships.
Proper training facilities should be provided both here and abroad for these athletes to excel at major international events.
A case in this direction is that of long jumper: Blessing Okagbare, who grabbed a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.
She was able to perform at the Olympics, due to the training she had in the United States of America 6 months before the Olympics.
The Ministry of sports should do all it can to help in the quick release of fund to the AFN.
The idea of releasing funds meant for training and camping just few days to major championships, is not only discouraging, but capable of creating brain drain in the Athletic circle, as it occurred some years back when francis Obikwelu and Gloria Alozie dumped the country for Spain.
The AFN should be proactive in the area of seeking for sponsorship.
Why on earth should telecoms giant Globacom, sponsor half marathon, when Nigerians are not good at running long distance races.
The idea is totally uncalled for, because the chief beneficiaries are the Kenyans, Ethiopians, Tanzanians and other east African Athletes.
MTN and the Rivers state Government are also guilty are this waste of fund in sponsoring half Marathon, which does not help our Athletes.
The AFN should please liaise with these cooperate institution and convince them on the need to turn their sponsorship attention to other athletic event that will be beneficial to the country’s Athletes.
Mobil Oil producing are the only company till date, that has consistently supported Athletic events in Nigeria.
On a final note, Nigeria should learn from the failure of Berlin, and work out a winning strategy before the next Olympic Games which is coming up in London in 2012.
Usain Bolt has made a bold statement, that anything is possible, as long as you believe and work towards it.
Setting a new world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m is no mean feat, but he did it in style and ease.
Nigerian Athletes should brace up for the challenge, and stop been intimidated.
The Athletic Federation of Nigeria should wake up to the challenge and aim to produce consistent athletes in the mold of Usain Bolt.

Why on earth should telecoms giant Globacom, sponsor half marathon, when Nigerians are not good at running long distance races.

says who?

My brother, there are no lessons learnt from Berlin. We took a buncha crocks shopping in Europe and sightseeing. Lessons for Barcelona 92, Atlanta 96, Sydney 00, Athens 04, Beijing 08. . . Which one have we learnt? The only reason we send athletes to these meets is for the executives to make money inflating expenditure. Half marathons, golf meets, Dancing and music competitions, mehn, these corporations are in sports for the money and not for the good of the nation.

Same old story everytime Naija have a dismal performance at any major events. You dont prepare, you cant win.

gbam!!

Guys,
i can feel u all.
its so frustarating that things have gone from bad to worse.
Lets not say all hope is lost anyway.
At least the super eagles are there to give us joy?

Abeg any person that has the opportunity to represent another country should do so.

Same old song of "lets go back to the drawing board".
That board go break o!!