I chose not to blog the story making rounds until I hear a refutal by the Sports Minister. Kepu kepu is that the Nigerian Minister of Sports, Beret Solomon Dalung said that the African Women Cup of Nations winners, the Super Falcons of Nigeria said the team are still being owed because "they didn't expect them to win". No Sir, that statement didn't come from my 5 year old niece, Kamsi. It came from the Minister of Sports, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The reason Nigerian sports is on a steady decline is not far fetched. Sports administration in the country is cow dung. Offices are assigned based on political affiliation. See, I have no issues with their politics. But sports is a global phenomenon which other nations use as a means of enhancing youth development and effecting social responsibility. In Nigeria, it is an avenue for political compensation and executing political vendetta. Assuming the people running sports are really sports administrators/ enthusiasts, it would have been fair. But assigning sports administrative offices to people bereft of sporting ideas and culture is the reason the nation is doing a moonwalk.
A while back, this same Thomas- Sankara-forming Sports Minister was alleged to have said that there was no need preparing the Super Eagles for 2018 World Cup as they would not win it. During preparations for 2016 Olympics, the Dream Team had issues with accommodation and flight. When queried on his plans to bail them out he was alleged to have retorted, "who asked them to go there". Now, after the the Super Falcons won the AWCON after beating hosts Cameroun 1 - 0, we find ourselves in yet another mud courtesy of same man. The ladies haven't been paid their allowances and bonuses. On returning to Abuja, they refused to vacate their hotel in protest of the backlog being owed them. Baba beret again said they were owed because they didn't expect them to win. How does that sound? Does it mean they send athletes out for games expecting them to loose? Are staff of NFF and Ministry of Sports owed salaries and allowances? These ladies did us proud but we reward them with stories. Sad.
I advise my footballer friends in Nigeria that they should have their careers uppermost in mind as against patriotism. Patriotism in Nigeria will reward you with empty stomach. It is presently alleged that the NFF and Sports Ministry are mulling over placing a life ban on the players for staging a protest for their entitlements. Dayum!!! Assuming the management of NFF and Sports Ministry are owed salaries and allowances too then one could say "we are in this together". But no, they live normally and expect the Super Falcons "to understand". So long as the sports sector remain the way it with square pegs in round holes, Nigerian sports will remain a joke. As for Minister Solomon Dalung, a popular street saying in the Niger Delta advises him; "He who do he do he".
Photo credit; pinterest
Follow Ikenna on Twitter @ikenna005
Visit www.cubicgallery.com for exclusive African traditional art master pieces.
No comments:
Post a Comment