Sports
Nigeria, Heading For Best Olympics In London –Egbunike
Head Coach of Nigeria’s Athletic team to the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games, Innocent Egbunike, has assured Nigerians of a memorable Olympic outing.
Egbunike, who gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Ikeja, yesterday, said, “We are aiming to have the best outing for the country’’.
He said the 31 athletes selected for the games were the best, having met the‘ A standard’ qualification for the games.
According to him, some of them have participated in many international meets to reach the standard.
“All you have to worry about is what you can do. You do not worry about anybody else, in track and field, looking at what somebody else has done, what they did, what they will do, will not matter.
“Till you line up with them and compete against them; if they are better than you at that moment, it’s only for that moment.
“We are going there at the fullness of our fitness, and by God’s grace we will give our best and hopefully our best will yield success but we are not going there to look at anybody else.
“Olympic Games is one competition, anything can happen because God knows best. The future belongs to God not any of us.
“No athlete goes to any championship to take second place, everybody goes to win, so that is the mindset and we are going to give our best and that is what matters.”
Egbunike noted that a lot still needed to be done in some areas, which he said, would be looked into within the next three weeks at Team Nigeria’s camp Surrey before the Games.
He expressed his pleasure at the team, noting that the team’s performance at the just-concluded 18th Africa Athletics Championship was an indication that Nigeria was prepared to do the country proud.
“We have to be honest with ourselves, Blessing is one blessed individual, she has so much talent, she has done so much for Nigeria so far and she has much to do for Nigeria.
“And I believe that she is one of the best in the world. We have to keep in mind this championships in Benin; that these athletes finished the Olympics trials. I do not care how good you are.
“You cannot go from one championship to another; these are human beings.
The body at times needs recovery and you start building a backup.
“So, for each of them that did what they did at the African championships, for them to accomplish to what they did, to me was great, was a blessing.
“ Because they competed at a time their body was saying “I need a break; I need rest.”
Egbunike urged Nigerians to pray for the success of the team at the London Games which are scheduled to hold from July 27 to August 12.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will no longer pay athletes training grants in foreign currency.
The development came after sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi, alleged foul play regarding the disbursement of training grants by the Commission.
Head of NSC’s Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, Yusuf Alli, told Tidesports source on Friday that it was wrong of Ajayi to rubbish the good intention of the NSC, saying: “I have been in athletics for over 40 years now, and this current NSC Board, led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, has done what others could not do. So far, the NSC has spent over N200 million in payment of training grants for athletes ahead the 2026 Commonwealth Games and preparation for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”
The NSC sourced the money from the private sector. It has never happened before. “I expected the athletes to encourage the NSC so that it can do more instead of raising unnecessary alarm and making allegations that is capable of discouraging them (NSC) and even the sponsors. It takes good initiative and trust for sports administrators in Nigeria to convince sponsors to donate money for welfare of athletes,” he said.
Speaking further, Alli, whose long jump record of 8.27m set in 1989 (35 years ago) is still unbroken, said: “We have decided that henceforth, all payment of training grants will be in Naira. No more payment of grants in U.S. dollars. We are Nigerians, and everyone knows that the exchange rate is not stable. As at the time Ajayi got his money, the rate of dollars to Naira may have changed
“I expected him to make a call either to myself or anybody in the Elite Board, or even the NSC to find out what happened instead of resorting to such allegation.
“If we make payment in Naira, any athlete who wants to convert his or her money to any foreign currency can tell their people back home to do so. I am sure this will solve the problem. If anybody wants to know how much he is entitled to, he must first of all find out the category that he or she belongs to.”
Alli disclosed that coaches, who train the athletes would soon get their grant. “They train the athletes, and the NSC feel is it not proper to leave them out in payment of grants. We have compiled their names, and very soon, the coaches would get their money,” Alli stated.
The chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has directed that a minute’s silence be observed before kick-off at all Matchday 30 fixtures this weekend in honour of former Green Eagles captain Henry Nwosu, following the death of the former midfielder at the age of 62.
In a statement made available to Tidesports source on Saturday, the league body confirmed that the tribute would be held across all matches to recognise the contribution of the former international to Nigerian football.
Elegbeleye described Nwosu’s passing as both a personal loss and a painful moment for the country’s club football community.
Nwosu, who was the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja after a brief illness.
The former midfielder had reportedly spent several days in hospital receiving intensive care before his death.
Elegbeleye said the late footballer was more than a colleague within the sport, describing him as someone with whom he had maintained a long-standing personal relationship dating back to his time at the National Sports Commission.
He said the former national team star had remained supportive of him in various moments of his career, including when he was nominated for the Pitch Football Awards.
Reflecting on Nwosu’s legacy, the NPFL chairman said the news represented the loss of a major figure in Nigerian football, noting that the former midfielder distinguished himself not only at club level but also later contributed to the development of the domestic game as a coach.
Elegbeleye said the death of the former international was “the death of a true ambassador of the domestic and national team football because he not only made his mark as a player in league clubs, but he also coached some of the league clubs.”
He added that death remained a submission to the will of God and prayed for the repose of Nwosu’s soul while urging strength for his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.
Earlier confirmation of the former midfielder’s death came from former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami, who revealed that Nwosu died after spending five days in hospital. Odegbami said the former player passed away at about four o’clock in the morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in intensive care.
“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON,” Odegbami said.
“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at four o’clock this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in heaven”.
At the club level, the former international spent most of his career in Nigeria, starring for New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and African Continental Bank FC of Lagos during a period when both sides were among the dominant forces in domestic football. His performances later earned him moves abroad, where he also played for ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.
