Obikwelu wants Nigeria to return to youth development
By Pius Anakali
Snr
Correspondent,
Lagos
Nigeria born Portuguese
sprint star, Francis Obikwelu has advised the Ministry of sports to beam their
searchlight on the upcoming athletes. Speaking yesterday on the Briish
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the 2004 Olympic 100metres silver medallist
said if those concerned with the administration of sports in Nigeria
don’t focus more attention on the younger generation of athletes, they
might be forced to abandon the country in nearest future.
He said there are
enough funds to bring Nigerian sports to a desirable level and make the country
a better sporting nation, only if those saddled with the task are ready and
willing to work for the development of sports, but noted that the problem with
Nigerian sports is lack of good management. “Nigerian sports
administrator know what to do. They have the money to turn things around. There
are talents in Nigeria but nobody seems to care about them. Everybody,
especially the sports administrators are the one killing the sports”, he
lamented
Comparing Nigeria
athletes to those of his now adopted country, Obikwelu said there is a big
difference. While he said, Portugal recognizes talent and makes them better
athletes; he opined that the reverse is the case in Nigeria where nobody cares.
“I am better
off here, the treatment are not comparable”, he insisted.
Obikwelu competed
for Nigeria in 1996 World Junior Athletics Championship, and won two gold
medals in 100 and 200metres and the Sydney 2000 Olympics and since then has
been a leading Nigerian athlete in the foreign circuit. His major event was
400meteres until he returned from Portugal in the wake of Nigeria Atlanta
Olympic trial where he changed and competed in the 100 and 200.
He left Nigeria
three years ago after disagreeing with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria
(AFN) and ministry officials over a career threatening injury.
