Team Nigeria Need Better Communication

Nigeria’s track and field sprinter, Gloria Asumnu, believes poor communication and preparation could be a stumbling block to the country’s chances of winning individual and relay medals at the Summer Olympics in London.

The Texas-born runner, who has a personal records of 7.07 in the 100 metres, is optimistic that Nigeria can win at the Games, but reckons that as far as preparations are concerned, there’s more to be done.

“I think we have a chance at medals in the relay, but there is so much lack of communication. If we are able to pull together and run the relay more than once, then expect good things at the Olympics. But If we just show up with no preparation, well you know the rest,” she said.

Asunmu competed at last year’s All African Games and won a bronze medal, but to add to her trophy cabinet at the Olympics she and her teammates will have to beat some of the best athletes in the world.

“Yes, I won a medal but it was nowhere near my best performance. I was excited to win it for the country but just not happy with my performance,” she explained.

The Tulane University graduate is not a regular fixture with Nigerian fans and is expected to use the Olympics to shoot herself to further reckoning. The 27-year-old claims she chose to represent Nigeria rather than the United States because Nigeria had only a handful of athletes.

“I considered it out of college as well as back in 2009, but there were a lot of external factors that didn’t allow me to make the switch, also due to how poorly Nigeria is represented then and even now people don’t have good things to say. I am hoping things will change and get better for us as a country,” she said.

She opines that Nigerian athletics needs people who have genuine interest in the sport, if it is to compete at the highest level. “I think we all know what should be done, but first and foremost we need better communication and also people who are in it for the love of the sport and not just financial gains.”

She added that every Nigerian athlete going to the games will put in their best performance but her primary focus will be to qualify for the finals. “My primary focus is making sure that I am healthy and fit so that I am able to give my best performances in the sprints and relays.”