Chukwumerije: I am Sorry

Captain of Team Nigeria to the London 2012 Olympics, Chika Chukwumerije, has tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians for his failure and that of the team at the recently concluded Games.

Chukwumerije told journalists in Lagos yesterday that his performance in London was short of expectations of Nigerians, who wanted him to surpass his bronze medal outing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He now wants Nigerians to forgive and forget the pains of his poor outing in London.

“I am sad that my result fell short of the high expectations Nigerians rightly had of me and perhaps, a number of my teammates. I make no excuses for the results.

“At this period more than ever, we must come together as one and share this collective pain as one Nigeria, one country, and one people. Just as we came together and shared the joy of two Atlanta Olympic gold medals. Now, we must also come together to share a feeling, which seems very unpalatable to digest,” he said.

Chukwumerije said he had a best preparation and exposed to the best facilities in Korea ahead of London Olympics, but he was unlucky to have lost to the Cuban opponent, Robelis Despaigne in the first round of the taekwondo event of the London Games.

By Sunday Akintoye