Nigeria is a rustic overflowing with sporting expertise. From schoolyard soccer to dusty group tracks, you possibly can see champions within the making.
But regardless of this abundance, our sporting future seems unsure. Why? As a result of now we have constructed a system obsessive about successful in any respect prices as an alternative of creating athletes for the long run.
Throughout the nation, under-15 and under-17 championships — meant to nurture uncooked expertise — have been was battlegrounds for states determined to prime medal tables.
What ought to be developmental festivals are actually handled like skilled tournaments, with athletes paraded and coaches pressured to ship outcomes by any means essential. Within the course of, now we have created a harmful tradition of shortcuts.
Probably the most obtrusive instance is the follow of money rewards for underage competitions. As an alternative of scholarships, tools, or faculty assist, youngsters are handed cash as if sport had been a fast profession.
This warps priorities, encourages dishonest, and fuels the rise of over-aged gamers sneaking into youth occasions. When states and academies are determined to win medals for funding or status, the result’s predictable: pretend ages, overworked youngsters, and deserted faculties.
However medals received on false foundations don’t construct Olympic champions. They construct empty statistics.
It wasn’t at all times this manner. Not way back, Nigerian faculties proudly equipped athletes to the nationwide groups.
At the moment, few can identify a secondary faculty nonetheless constantly producing nationwide stars. Non-public academies have stepped into the vacuum, however with out correct regulation, a lot of them chase fast outcomes fairly than athlete welfare. The pipeline is damaged, and the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, federations, and state sports activities councils should take duty.
So, what should change?
The reality is easy: Nigeria can nonetheless win medals on the Olympics — however not by chasing shortcuts. Our athletes succeed globally when expertise is mixed with correct preparation, good governance, and powerful growth programs. With out that, desperation will solely ship disappointment.
Sport isn’t just about medals. It’s about constructing self-discipline, delight, alternative, and group. If we proceed to sacrifice growth for reasonable wins, we’ll lose excess of podium finishes — we’ll lose a technology of athletes.
The Nationwide Sports activities Fee should get up, federations should step up, and states should cease gaming the system. If we wish to see Nigeria’s flag raised excessive in Los Angeles 2028 and past, then we should return to the schoolyard — and cease successful in any respect prices.
