Obikwelu on Nigeria's demise

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Nigeria not serious about sports – Obikwelu
By Festus Abu
Published: Monday, 12 Jan 2009

Portugal sprint sensation Francis Obikwuelu has taken a swipe at Nigerian officials for the declining fortunes of athletics in the country.

The 100m specialist, who dumped Nigeria in 2001 for the European country, set the standing European 100m record at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, clocking 9.86secs to win silver. The medal was Portugal‘s first in the sprint event.

Obikwelu, who is in the country on holiday, regretted that Nigerian athletes had been missing out on the opportunities of participating at major international competitions due to poor planning and financial support from the government.

The 30-year-old, who became the first man since Italian Pietro Mennea (in 1978) to win the 100m and 200m at the European championship in Gothenburg in 2006, said.

“Each time I participated at major international championship and I didn’t find any Nigerian to run in the final with me I always felt for the athletes.

[b]“We have talented athletes in the country but the problem is that there are no deliberate efforts to make them reach greater heights.

“The athletes are willing to perform but the officials keep telling them there is no money. It’s only Nigeria that complains about money; other countries don’t.

“Portugal put a lot of money on me to do well. So if I didn‘t perform at any competition, I would ask myself why.

“Everything I needed to succeed was given to me by the federation (Portuguese Athletics Federation). The federation pays me. Mine is to wake up and run.[/b]
“In my early days in athletics in Nigeria, we were supported by the government and we were always camped at the Nigeria Institute for Sports in Lagos.

“It’s unfortunate that the era is gone in Nigeria.”

Obikwelu, who decided to call it quits with the sport after he failed to reach the 100m final of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, promised to assist Nigerian athletes to become world beaters.

He said, “There should be planning for success in Nigeria.

“If money is given to any official for a particular purpose and he fails to perform, the government should ask why.”

45 Companies Indicate Interest
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Asuelimen Osasuyi, Abuja
January 12th, 2009

Forty five corporate bodies have indicated interest to manage the twenty eight of the 32 sports federations advertised by the National Sports Commission (NSC), through concessioning of all national sports federations.Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Engr. Sani Ndanusa said during a meeting with the concessionaires with the "theme, Managing Sports Through Public Private partnership and Concessioning of Sports federation yesterday, that all interests expressed cut across all categories of sports, from track and field to traditional sports.

Ndanusa said that with the response by Nigerians and corporate companies, there is a direction in sports administration."While not delving into the obvious shortcomings in our sports administration over the years, it is however trite to state that a major lacuna resulting in the poor results experienced over the years is traceable to the dearth of strategies that could guarantee talent identification at grassroots levels and appropriate development and exposure of those athletes identified at relevant international sports for a competitions.

The sports minister said he is particularly happy that Nigerians/companies have expressed interest in the six sports earmarked for global competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games.“Perspective concessionaires are expected to provide the necessary management and the funding required by the federation to develop concerned athletes/sports. You should as well see your involvement at this level as a major economic investment which, if ideally harnessed be leveraged on for branding of your products or services. I want to see this humble beginning as the real take-off of sports business in Nigeria.”

Ndanusa urged those who are still interested in the remaining sports to do so as the door for it is still open.Meanwhile, the technical committee mandated to handle the screening exercise for all the concessionaires would be headed by the Director-General, Dr. Patrick Ekeji who incidentally is the man who initiated the concept. Companies that have so far indicated interest and the sports they bidded for are Tetrazzini Food Ltd (Basketball, Tennis, Table Tennis and Swimming) others are Globacom (Basketball, Golf, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting, Athletics, Squash, Rackets and Boxing).

Walimo Investment Nig Ltd bided for Basketball, Judo, and Table Tennis while DBN Limited expressed interest in Athletics, Boxing, Basketball, Table Tennis and Tennis.Those that bidded for basketball alone are, The Regent Printing & Publishing, Dan Minechi Ventures Excellent, Basketball Millennium Foundation and Multichoice Nig Ltd.O’jez Entertainments Ltd expressed interest in Table Tennis and Swimming while Coscharis Motors Limited bidded for Table Tennis only.

Multi Sports Service & Entertainment and Gemexon Nig. Limited are interested in handling Tennis.For Golf, C.M.C Golf Touire Ltd, Golf Tour Academy Promo, Global Golf Limited and Sports Solution Ltd showed interest.Other companies are: Emma-Fringers International, Dolf Madi International, Unitrust Insurance Co. Ltd, Icon Sports Management and Dev. Ltd, Squash Racket Dev. Fundation, Playtyplus Ltd and Inducon Nigeria Limited.Membe (Ogboloabiri), Icon Sports Mgt & Dev. Ltd, Thechess Consortium, Sunrise Badminton Mgt & Coy, Propoint Nig Ltd, Authentic Friends of Swimming, Olvic Group of companies among others.