Falilat weeps for Nigeria

By Tosin Omojola - 09.05.2008

OLYMPICS silver medallist, Falilat Ogunkoya- Omotayo has described as disturbing the rate at which the standard of athletics in Nigeria is dwindling.

The former quarter miller, while featuring on a local television programme last weekend bemoaned the state of Nigerian athletics, heaping the blame on the administrators.

The Ogun State-born former 400 metres queen said it was disheartening seeing Nigeria losing its position as Africa’s number one in athletics.

She explained that there was no reason whatsoever why the country should not maintain its place as Africa’s numero uno in athletics but stated that a lot of things had gone wrong, which if not urgently addressed, would eventually force the country to lag behind others.

One of the areas which she highlighted was the lack of focus on grassroots sports, stressing that, “as long as we continue to neglect sports at the grassroots, the standard of athletics will continue to dwindle.”

According to Falilat, Nigeria’s reliance on old athletes who she said had already paid their dues would continue to hamper the growth of athletics in the country, advising the authorities to, therefore, return to the old system whereby schools sports was given much priority.

“For us to regain our top position in the athletics world, we have to return to the grassroots where lots of talented sportsmen and women could be discovered. We have them spread all over the school.

“All we need to do is to beam our searchlight on them through various sporting activities. This I believe will help us in getting it right again,” Falilat declared.

She also spoke on the importance of welfare of the country’s sportsmen and women, lamenting the shady treatment they are often subjected to by the authorities.

According to her, “we must change our attitude towards our athletes as far as welfare package is concerned. Most Nigerian athletes are often used and abandoned which is not the best. There must be a positive approach in this regard.