Nigeria’s foremost Youth Sports Organising Body, the Youth Sports Federation Of Nigeria (YSFON) has sent a massage of congratulations to Team Nigeria on their performance at the just concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
YSFON President and Deputy Governor of Kano State Dr Nasir Gauna and the National Executive Committee of the body however felt it could be better and given the Nation’s quality of talents, Team Nigeria would have earned more accolades and improved international recognition.
YSFON argues that with unity of purpose and sustained patriotic zeal, the Nation would have won more medals and avoid the unnecessary show of shame in the eyes of the world
Inarguably, Team Nigeria performed better, unlike at the Rio 2016 Olympics where it secured just a bronze medal but the sore spots are the humiliations arising from the Ban of 10 Nigerian athletes by the Athletics Integrity Unit and the suspension of Blessing Okagbare for failing a dope test, poor kitting, which led Chukwuebuka Enekwechi to publicly wash his only Jersey ahead of the Men’s shot put finals, amongst others.
Gauna says YSFON is sincerely disturbed that the Nation is gradually sliding down the sports ladder with abysmally poor and disappointing performances at different international meets to the extent that lowly rated countries like San Marino who went to Tokyo with five athletes won three medals and many others now gain upper hand and better international recognition than Nigeria.
For the National Secretary of YSFON, Patrick Okpavhuere, the most disturbing issue today in Nigeria is the infighting and lack of harmony amongst the leadership of various federations, for example the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and others.
This unacceptable conduct has caused the Nation serious embarrassment and shame that must not continue.
YFSON is insisting on aggressive grassroots sports development through regular local competitions across board and grooming of discovered talents for future engagements.
It is certainly important that the Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare do a post mortem of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and find out the root cause of disharmony amongst the leadership of various sports bodies and indiscipline in some athletes, punish and expel those whose unpatriotic attitude is creating unacceptable setbacks for the Nation.
The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria wishes to continuously express its support for Nigeria by playing it’s part of organizing grassroots competitions and other national duties as assigned to give the best to our Fatherland.
