Nigeria, like some other countries like Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Indonesia cannot boast of Olympic medals despite impressive population, resources, and talents. So, the question becomes; what is it about our political culture that puts us behind countries like Jamaica, Kenya , and even Ethiopia? Before you say we are not built for marathon races like the east Africans, what about other sports we are build for? Judo, tract and field, swimming, basket ball, etc. In the 80s and 90s, a few Nigerian names like Mary Onyali, Egbunike, and so on used to be heard, but this year, nobody from Nigeria even qualified for the most common games(keep your fingers crossed for the soccer team). So, what is the problem? Are we just too well fed to compete? What is the influence of politics and religion on the preparation, participation, and winnning of medals in international events such as the Olympics by Nigerian?

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/ngr;_ylt=AvxEq0HztjD0NTgHjJ4nHc6PaJh4

it is true that our leaders care less about sports generally in this country.they release funds at the eleventh hour.but we thank God that we are now at the final of the u 23 footbal competition

How can leaders that are not even well informed know anything about sport, but i will like to understand is the usefulness of Ministry of Sport, if there is any as such.
I am so surprised that we dont have swimmers and yet u see so many pple in swin suits and whatever happened to the Iyaw pple and the Ilajes, i will epxct to see some of them in da olympics.
But i beg forget our leaders and coaches are not even coaching for medals anyways, just for the money and the name.

Before commenting further; a big 'Job well done' by the eagles. I took a look at the list of athletes representing Nigeria, and I came to the sad conclusion that 95% are from the south, christians, and progressive. My question is whatever happened to the supposed majority in the north? What cultural and religious obstacle is preventing them from representing the country? These people spend hours and hours gazing, starring, and admiring scantly dressed women athletes, yet they keep their own women-folk under lock, key, and covered head-to-toe with purdah. If that's not enough, these non-athletic, and sporting-no-goods are appointed to into strategic positions in the ministry of sports, to oversea games they know nothing about.

naijaking1:

Before commenting further; a big 'Job well done' by the eagles. I took a look at the list of athletes representing Nigeria, and I came to the sad conclusion that 95% are from the south, christians, and progressive. My question is whatever happened to the supposed majority in the north? What cultural and religious obstacle is preventing them from representing the country? These people spend hours and hours gazing, starring, and admiring scantly dressed women athletes, yet they keep their own women-folk under lock, key, and covered head-to-toe with purdah. If that's not enough, these non-athletic, and sporting-no-goods are appointed to into strategic positions in the ministry of sports, to oversea games they know nothing about.

Oboy e-be like say you wan chop sharp knife abi suya knife.

naijaking1:

Before commenting further; a big 'Job well done' by the eagles. I took a look at the list of athletes representing Nigeria, and I came to the sad conclusion that 95% are from the south, christians, and progressive. My question is whatever happened to the supposed majority in the north? What cultural and religious obstacle is preventing them from representing the country? These people spend hours and hours gazing, starring, and admiring scantly dressed women athletes, yet they keep their own women-folk under lock, key, and covered head-to-toe with purdah. If that's not enough, these non-athletic, and sporting-no-goods are appointed to into strategic positions in the ministry of sports, to oversea games they know nothing about.

they take jealousy to a (HNL) a hole Nother Leve and all in religious pretext.

Let the truth be told

naijaking1:

Let the truth be told

Sounds more like your opinion.

Which one is my own opinion:
That girls (and boys) from the Hausa Fulani north don't participate in sports? Or
That the girls gets covered up and dressed in Purdah that would make it impossible for them to play any sort of sports? Or
That Hausa men enjoy, stare, and even masturbate at pictures of athletically dressed girls, while keeping their girls wrapped up in the name of religion? Or That many of these non-athletic Hausa men are now running the ministry of sports?
All these are not anyone's personal opinion, but verifable facts on the ground.

naijaking1:

Which one is my own opinion:
That girls (and boys) from the Hausa Fulani north don't participate in sports? Or
That the girls gets covered up and dressed in Purdah that would make it impossible for them to play any sort of sports? Or
That Hausa men enjoy, stare, and even masturbate at pictures of athletically dressed girls, while keeping their girls wrapped up in the name of religion? Or That many of these non-athletic Hausa men are now running the ministry of sports?
All these are not anyone's personal opinion, but verifable facts on the ground.

what about sani kaita?

Who says we're not built for marathons.
Look at those northern cattle rearers
don't they look like like those long legged Kenyans ?
All those skills they used in chasing those wild male namas can be utilized in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres
All they need to do is imagine that their opponents are namas that need capturing.
We have many resources,but are we utilizing them ?

Queenisha:

Who says we're not built for marathons.
Look at those northern cattle rearers
don't they look like like those long legged Kenyans ?
All those skills they used in chasing those wild male namas can be utilized in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres
All they need to do is imagine that their opponents are namas that need capturing.
We have many resources,but are we utilizing them ?

not really the kinda marathan those guys do. 16 miles is way longer. 3000meters is less than 2 miles

Queenisha:

Who says we're not built for marathons.
Look at those northern cattle rearers
don't they look like like those long legged Kenyans ?
All those skills they used in chasing those wild male namas can be utilized in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres
All they need to do is imagine that their opponents are namas that need capturing.
We have many resources,but are we utilizing them ?

Trust me Queen. . . . the 1500m and 3000m aint easy at all. I use to run 1600 and 3200 in highschool. It was hard as hell.

agaba123:

not really the kind of marathan those guys do. 16 miles is way longer. 3000meters is less than 2 miles

We can train them na
just because you can finish one carton of beer with a plate of isiewu after your lunch doesn't mean you can't drink 2 bottles and call it a day

the best way to train this fulanis is to take the fulanis and their namas to Gaza right the middle of the shooting their namas should be released. then they should start running around to look for their namas, i bet we would set a new unbreakable WR of 1:30:57 secs.

Queenisha:

Who says we're not built for marathons.
Look at those northern cattle rearers
don't they look like like those long legged Kenyans ?
All those skills they used in chasing those wild male namas can be utilized in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres
All they need to do is imagine that their opponents are namas that need capturing.
We have many resources,but are we utilizing them ?

The solution is simple, just get them goggles with images of nama running away.

walahi, they will run 10,000m and keep running till you remove the goggles.

thats a beautiful one,
with all pleasure i will support you the their trainer/coach
mind you i have already forward your application the
federal ministry of youth and sports for employment

i wish you the very best of luck

gabe_logan:

what about sani kaita?

Are you counting 1 person out of an area that claim to have more than 60% of the countries population?

I do 6 miles so it aint nothing to much though I am not into competitive sports.

Queenisha:

We can train them na
just because you can finish one carton of beer with a plate of isiewu after your lunch doesn't mean you can't drink 2 bottles and call it a day

Queenisha:

Who says we're not built for marathons.
Look at those northern cattle rearers
don't they look like like those long legged Kenyans ?
All those skills they used in chasing those wild male namas can be utilized in the 1,500 and 3,000 metres
All they need to do is imagine that their opponents are namas that need capturing.
We have many resources,but are we utilizing them ?

Rotflmao! I swear my brother-in-law told my younger brother the same thing the day Usain Bolt set new records. . . He turned to him and said in Yoruba "You know you should be able to do that with all the herds of cattle you chased growing up", don't get me wrong, it is a logical conclusion but what you guys don't understand is when you are chasing namas, you go in zigzags and those yeye goats are smart too, they can dodge like there's no tomorrow. The day we can get the namas to run on a straight line, is the day you'll start seeing Malas running for the country.

Train the namas and the malas will come, see and conquer.  

Queenisha:

We can train them na
just because you can finish one carton of beer with a plate of isiewu after your lunch doesn't mean you can't drink 2 bottles and call it a day

queenisha, wetin join you with this isiewu? ooh, abi that guy give you contract as the makerting manager.

@ debosky & siskill

thats another way, i never knew nigerians are this good as marathon coaches.

papa_dims:

queenisha, wetin join you with this isiewu? ooh, abi that guy give you contract as the makerting manager.

@ debosky & siskill

thats another way, i never knew nigerians are this good as marathon coaches.

My dear o
chei!
My man gave me an engagement ring at an Isiewu joint
I'm tied with isiewu for life

papa_dims:

queenisha, wetin join you with this isiewu? ooh, abi that guy give you contract as the makerting manager.

@ debosky & siskill

thats another way, i never knew nigerians are this good as marathon coaches.

You know what they say now, neccesity is the mother of invention. Do you think I was happy watching all the other countries run and win medals when I have brothers and cousins who if they were coached right will be there running their behinds off, winning the medals. Why, I can just see me. . . I mean see them laughing into the cameras all happy coz of the money. . . errr. . .  pride of representing their pockets, I swear I don't know why I am mispeaking today. What I mean to say is happy and proud to represent their countries.

Yep, it is all about National Pride.

Naijaking don talk my mind, end of story.

where is the poll?

whats all these about looking to blame one particular region of the country, we are always looking elsewhere for blame aren't we?

its a Nigeria thing, parents dont like their kids playing in the dirt or running about- it seen as being unserious!
not until you become popular or wealthy anyway!

parents like to be called the mother of that Doctor/Engineer/Lawyer and all those big-money/Status professions!
_{we are status obsessed!}

And yea like every other aspect of our country we have incompetent administrators!!!

Our govt is not interesred in those things.
Do you want to say they are visionless, tell it to whoever cares, they are.

A country with over 140million people, just 4 medals, too poor.

religion has got nothing to do with sports.

it very unfortunate that things like this are happening in the democratic time.
first and for most sport development is not for the ministry of sport the ministry is just there to support watever finished product given to them.
i think the federal goverment as to start thinking of grassroots.
impose certain sport facilities for people who weants to run school,u can't imagine the last time i was back home seeing
my former naighbours small flat turned into a school the first thing i tot about was that sport is dead.
no field,track or any sporting facilities.

The funding and proper support just is not there.
http://www.athleticsafrica.com/Outgoing/africandrain_FS_1907.html

Top athletes in the UK now receive money from the national lottery and it has helped to improve these athletes performance at the Olympic games this year.

I mentioned this in another post but there should be a sports fund that people can donate to. Of course it would be a concern of mine that the money might not get to who needs to but it if something like this was properly funded i would gladly donate.

The Jamaican athletes don't have it easy either. Usain Bolt said on TV that at times it has been really difficult for him money wise.

These are supposedly the secrets to the Jamaicans success on the track.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/the_secrets_of_jamaicas_sprint.html

No Nigeria did not do well but countries like SA and Ghana did even worse lol. I would love to see Nigeria up there one day.

one day some day, the namas and goats will run in a straight line. till then, let's dream on abt the Phelps, Luikins and the Jamaican runners.

Queenisha i laugh tire. i heard nig good at bedmatic. maybe they should add that on the list in 2012.

so wetin nig win sha?

sly-k:

religion has got nothing to do with sports.

I beg to disagree.
When a religion prohibits girls from wearing certain types of sporting attire, from exposing whatever parts of their body, from speaking to men except their husbands/fathers/brothers; you still think that people who practice that religion will be out there playing soccer, swimming, running, or even playing beach basketball---- common!

Apart from a few (christian) Morroccan and East African female runners, did you see muslim females from other countries? Girls from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc are busy hiding themselves and their bodies from 'the evil stare of the World', so no sports.