15th May, 2012
If you are one of those expecting Nigerian contingent to the London 2012 Olympic Games to come back with medals, you better forget it because a sports consultant, Olusola Lawal has said that it would require a miracle for Team Nigeria to perform at the games.
Lawal, who is the Managing Director of Tennels Sports hinged his pessimism on the poor preparation of the team ahead of the Olympics, arguing that the athletes were not adequately prepared.
He argued that a country that wants to win medals in competitions make preparation paramount and not what the officials of the National Sports Commission, NSC are doing.
The sports consultant further disclosed that if he had his way, he would have compelled the Federal Government not to allow Team Nigeria participate at the games, stating that the team may be heading to London for another jamboree.
He is however sure that the female athletes in the team may spring surprises, but he could not really say what colour of medals they would return with.
In his words “To be frank I can’t beat my chest and say Team Nigeria will do well but the female athletes can win medals for us because of their resilience on the tracks”.
Concluding he advised the NSC and the Federal Government to concentrate more on grassroots sports, adding; “That is where Nigeria got those that are representing the country at the moment, if we must return to the zenith of sports again, we must go back to the grassroots and start developing our sports from that level”.
—Adebobola Alawode