Olympics: Beyond the Blame Game After Nigeria's Poor Outing
By Inyali Peter
Everything rises and falls on leadership, as John Maxwell aptly puts it. In the wake of Team Nigeria's disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics, Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has taken responsibility and apologized, despite meeting everything regarding Nigeria's preparation for the Olympics halfway.
His decision to apologize is characteristic of a responsible leader, yet some reactions have been unfair and unjust. Chioma Anjuwa, a former footballer, appeared on Channels Television yesterday and blamed the ministry's officials for the poor outing. But is it just about the ministry officials whose job is mainly administrative? Maybe, separating the technical aspect of sports from administrative side can help us understand the issues and work towards solutions rather than just playing the blame games.
Basically, the root of Nigeria's struggles at the Olympics lies in technical issues, not administrative. The Athletic Federation of Nigeria and National Olympic Committee, responsible for technical aspects, had already set the Olympic plans in motion for years before Sen. Enoh was deployed as Minister on August 16, 2023. As the administrative head of the sector, his key responsibilities include motivating athletes, ensuring their welfare, securing necessary funding for timely payment of their dues, and more; all of which he successfully delivered.
Therefore, it is unfair to lay all the blames on the Minister, who had no hand in key technical decisions like hiring the technical team or NOC, who were in charge of Team Nigeria's preparation. People are overlooking the real issues responsible for our poor outing. Poor preparation was responsible for performances therefore we must return to the drawing board rather than seeking scapegoats.
Besides, with all the blames and attempt to scapegoat the Minister, nobody has categorically pointed to what he was supposed to do within his short period as Minister that would work drastically changed the outcome of our Olympic performances that he didn't do.
One year is insufficient to prepare for Olympic competitions, as Usain Bolt's four-year training journey to set a world record demonstrates.
This tendency to chase shadows rather than address the real problems is a persistent challenge in our country. Notably, many experts agree that Nigeria has never had a better Sports Minister. Under Sen. Owan Enoh's leadership, athletes have received their entitlements promptly, ending delays and non-payment issues that previously plagued the sector.
The sports sector is evolving and there are evidences that Sen. Enoh is leading it in the right trajectory. For instance, during the AFCON, he secured the necessary funds for NFF to clear all outstanding debts owed to players and coaches. This same commitment was replicated during the All African Games and the Olympics. He is keeping our athletes motivated by giving priority to their welfare. Generally, the President Bola Tinubu's administration has been very supportive of the sector and all that's needed now is to get the technical aspect right.
Nevertheless, the notion that only former professional athletes understand sports and should be the only administrators to run the sector is flawed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a law graduate, is a prime example. Even Samuel Eto'o, a football legend, has struggled to lead the Cameroun Football Federation. Ex-athletes with the technical-know-how should collaborate with relevant authorities to chart a new course for the sector instead of media trial.
As the Para-Olympics begin, let's shift from negativity to supporting our athletes. The Minister is building something great with notable successes like the Super Eagles AFCON second-place finish and Nigeria's second-place in the All Africa Games medal table. Although we underperformed at the Olympics, we must move forward with renewed hope, trusting the Minister's leadership to take us to greater heights.
