Isaac Ikhaobomeh, an athletics coach on Friday commended athletes representing the country in the athletics events at the ongoing Rio Olympics, in spite of their failure to win medals.
Ikaobomeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the athletes would have performed creditably if necessary provisions were in place before the Olympics began.
He noted that poor preparations for major world events had impacted negatively on the nation’s sporting prowess over the years.
“For the athletes, I give them kudos, why did I say so, is because it’s a one man show, everybody was on their own.
“There was no camping, there was no incentive, there was nothing for them, and nothing was done to say we want to win from the Federal Government or the AFN (Athletic Federation of Nigeria).
“So for the athletes, honestly they did their best only their best was not good enough to give us medal.
“I keep telling people we don’t have a drawing board in this country again, all our drawing boards are torn.
“Let us use the ground, use the wall as our drawing board now so that we can get there.
“We need to go back to what we used to do in the yester years, where we have competitions for age groups.
“And again, I will not blame AFN so much because AFN is the parent body of track and field.
“What are the states doing, how many states is organising competition in this country, none, only Lagos and Delta.
“So what are the local government doing, money is been voted for sports in local government, so also in the states, everybody just sit down there, divide and rule money, they just eat it.
“AFN is to pick athletes from all these state, groom them for national events, so I don’t really blame AFN.’’
NAN reports that the country is yet to register its name in the medals table at the Rio Games which would end on Aug. 21. (NAN)
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