Ex-international hurdler, Henry Amike is full of lamentations over what he referred to as ‘slow speed’ progress taking place in the discovery of new stars for track and field events among Nigeria’s current competitors.
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Sports247 reports that Amike, who cut a niche for himself with many records and remarkable results in various 400m hurdles races in Nigeria, Africa and globally, said he is not happy seeing it takes almost 40 years for new stars to emerge.
Amike stressed that, when compared to achievements recorded by the previous array of athletes, especially among his generation, the pace of development in Nigeria has fallen short of expectations.
The highly respected Olympian and sports administrator, who is now seeking elective office as a politician, suggested a number of solutions to the setback, among which he believes should be greater investment in athletics by individuals and corporate bodies.
He further advocated better attention to welfare of athletes, improved training and expanded opportunities for competitions as other urgent steps that should be taken in order to restore Nigeria to its glory days of yore in track and field.
The ex-international athlete also called for improved and effective involvement of retired athletes in sports administration, with a view that their technical expertise and experience can contribute significantly to reforms within the sector.
While also harping on the need for policy formulation and institutional change in Nigerian athletics, Amike, who represented the country at the Olympic Games of 1984 in Los Angeles and 1988 in Seoul, also charged new athletes to work harder.
Amike, who also competed in 4×400m events lamented, “We are not happy with what we have seen in Nigerian track and field. We expected that after we left, people would take over immediately, but it has taken almost 40 years before things are coming up.”
