Olympic champion, Daniel Igali, in this interview with SOLOMON NWOKE,
speaks on the obstacles standing in the way of Nigeria’s bid to become a
global sports giant and offers solutions on how Team Nigeria can mint
gold medals at next year’s Rio Olympics Games.
There were reports that you were detained at the airport in Brazzaville during the last All African Games. Can you shed some light on your ordeal for Nigerians?
I had a very bitter experience at the Maya-Maya Airport, Brazzaville, when I arrived on September 15. I and four other Nigerians were delayed at the airport for about eight hours. Reasons for the delay were incoherent and lacking in substance.
We were finally cleared to enter the country after the DG of the National Sports Commission, Al Hassan Yakmut and even the head of the Nigeria Mission in Congo Brazzaville intervened. People may describe the treatment I received at that airport in different ways, but restricting the movement of a foreign national at an airport for eight hours is nothing short of detention. Even those who disagree may not feel the same way if they were put in the same situation. I appreciate all who showed concern and intervened. No Nigerian deserves to be kept at an airport for more than necessary without committing any offence. The Congolese were bad hosts, especially the hostile immigration personnel. I am glad we handled that matter quickly and got over it.
How successful was the recent All African Games for Team Nigeria?
I am wearing two hats. First is that of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) and the second is that of the Chairman of the Technical Commission of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC). It behoves on me therefore to take this question in my two capacities and in two phases.
Wrestling did incredibly well at the All African Games. That only three out of 21 wrestlers who went to the Games did not come back with medal is tremendous. That the team won more gold medals than either silver or bronze medals is outstanding. It means the conversion rate was exceptional. Normally, you have more of bronze medals than gold medals at virtually every Games. Recording a 9 to 4 gold to bronze medal ratio is very commendable and appreciable.
To think that we could have easily won 12 gold medals even makes it more mouth-watering, especially when you consider the fact that we went to the African Championships in April this year with 18 athletes and won only two gold medals.
From the angle of my position as Chairman of the Technical Commission of the NOC, I would say we had a late resurgence and had a fantastic result. Again, looking at the total gold to silver and bronze ratio, there is much to be excited about. We were only a few silver medals above gold medals and more gold medals than bronze medals. To have our conversion rate at almost 50 percent as a nation is appreciable. 47 gold medals was a great result. Considering that even four days to the close of the Games, we were at a distant fourth, and also considering that we essentially prepared for two months for the 11th African Games, in my view, we posted a very good result. If we can start preparations for the Olympics with the same spirit and put in the requisite funding in preparation, I believe we will win medals at Rio 2016.
Would you say that with the second place position that Nigeria is on the path of taking her pride of place in African sports?
I think we have the potential to be first in Africa if and when we widen the sports we compete in and do well in some sports like swimming, fencing etc. We would also need to improve on our traditional powerhouse combat sports and sprint events that have multiple medals. Looking at the difference in gold medals between Egypt and Nigeria, 38 gold medals, we would have to take extraordinary steps to achieve a first position in future Africa Games.
What are the sports that most impressed you this year?
Boxing was a silent surprise. Four gold medals cae as a big surprise. Very impressive. Wrestling did very well also, better than our projections. Most sports did well, considering the circumstances.
In which areas would you recommend the NSC to beef up?
The NSC always takes the flak for poor organization and results, but I won’t hesitate to pour encomium on Alhassan Yakmut and his team for the way the training camps were handled leading to the competition proper and even the phased transportation of our contingent to Brazzaville. But there is always room for improvement. I am privy to some plans to improve sports, so I may not have much in the way of recommendations on the pages of newspapers. But it is necessary to improve in every facet of our sporting landscape.
How do you feel that despite the huge sum of money pumped into football, our football team could only fetch us a bronze?
Every country in Africa pumps money into football. In spite of the best preparations, there is no guarantee that one can win it all, especially if everyone else has prepared adequately. I don’t think our male and female football teams went to Congo with the intention of winning one solitary bronze medal. We pray for better luck next time.
Our next stop is the Olympic Games in Rio next year. What are your predictions for Nigeria?
I think Nigeria has the potential to win multiple medals, but it will depend on how we handle preparations and welfare of the athletes and officials.
What is your wish for Nigerian sports?
My wish for sports is that of a professionally run, where athletes and coaches are focused and an establishment that will think of laundering the image of Nigeria. My desire is for an establishment that will have world-beaters. Nothing would gladden my heart than seeing Nigeria win multiple gold medals at every Olympic Games. My desire is for an elite-athlete based platform that will not be everything to everyone but will be strategic in our choice of sports, especially those in which we have competitive advantage.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing athletes living well. Many countries give diplomatic passports to their top athletes, because in the real sense, they are the real ambassadors of the country.
If we win an Olympic medal in Rio next year, I would be marginally fulfilled. I cannot however talk about full satisfaction when we are relying on the National Sports Commission for funding. We have met obstacles in our marketing drive. It is one aspect that keeps me awake, that we have a nation that feels only the Federal Government should fund sports. This is a nation that wants its athletes to dominate at the global stage, yet, does not support them. That’s the area of most concern to me.
Should Nigerians expect a gold medal from wrestling at the Olympics?
Nigeria has never won any medal in wrestling at the Olympic Games. There is also a reason why Nigeria has won only three gold medals at the Olympic Games since we started participating several decades ago. If we prepare adequately and the wrestling gods favour us, we hope someone in wrestling will sneak on the medal table in Rio next year. Early and adequate preparations must be out watchword. That is my only fear for the Olympics
Are there other issues you want us to know?
The money invested in sports is very meagre when compared to what is given to other sectors. The average Nigerian needs to understand that everyone, especially the privileged ones, need to put their money where their mouth is. It takes a lot of financial investments for athletes to give optimum performance, It is only when Nigerians wake up to this realization, that our country will grow. We have to make sports what it ought to be with our population and potentials. Rather than focus on what we can gain from the meagre funds allocated to sports, administrators at all levels need to shift attention and focus more on what we can give; and how best we can even manage the meagre finances that are directed at sports administration should be our key focus. There are too many sports administrators at all levels whose interest is to milk the system dry, rather than impact positively on the system. We will only get it right when the greed of most sports administrators is replaced by selflessness and patriotism.
There were reports that you were detained at the airport in Brazzaville during the last All African Games. Can you shed some light on your ordeal for Nigerians?
I had a very bitter experience at the Maya-Maya Airport, Brazzaville, when I arrived on September 15. I and four other Nigerians were delayed at the airport for about eight hours. Reasons for the delay were incoherent and lacking in substance.
We were finally cleared to enter the country after the DG of the National Sports Commission, Al Hassan Yakmut and even the head of the Nigeria Mission in Congo Brazzaville intervened. People may describe the treatment I received at that airport in different ways, but restricting the movement of a foreign national at an airport for eight hours is nothing short of detention. Even those who disagree may not feel the same way if they were put in the same situation. I appreciate all who showed concern and intervened. No Nigerian deserves to be kept at an airport for more than necessary without committing any offence. The Congolese were bad hosts, especially the hostile immigration personnel. I am glad we handled that matter quickly and got over it.
How successful was the recent All African Games for Team Nigeria?
I am wearing two hats. First is that of the President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) and the second is that of the Chairman of the Technical Commission of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC). It behoves on me therefore to take this question in my two capacities and in two phases.
Wrestling did incredibly well at the All African Games. That only three out of 21 wrestlers who went to the Games did not come back with medal is tremendous. That the team won more gold medals than either silver or bronze medals is outstanding. It means the conversion rate was exceptional. Normally, you have more of bronze medals than gold medals at virtually every Games. Recording a 9 to 4 gold to bronze medal ratio is very commendable and appreciable.
To think that we could have easily won 12 gold medals even makes it more mouth-watering, especially when you consider the fact that we went to the African Championships in April this year with 18 athletes and won only two gold medals.
From the angle of my position as Chairman of the Technical Commission of the NOC, I would say we had a late resurgence and had a fantastic result. Again, looking at the total gold to silver and bronze ratio, there is much to be excited about. We were only a few silver medals above gold medals and more gold medals than bronze medals. To have our conversion rate at almost 50 percent as a nation is appreciable. 47 gold medals was a great result. Considering that even four days to the close of the Games, we were at a distant fourth, and also considering that we essentially prepared for two months for the 11th African Games, in my view, we posted a very good result. If we can start preparations for the Olympics with the same spirit and put in the requisite funding in preparation, I believe we will win medals at Rio 2016.
Would you say that with the second place position that Nigeria is on the path of taking her pride of place in African sports?
I think we have the potential to be first in Africa if and when we widen the sports we compete in and do well in some sports like swimming, fencing etc. We would also need to improve on our traditional powerhouse combat sports and sprint events that have multiple medals. Looking at the difference in gold medals between Egypt and Nigeria, 38 gold medals, we would have to take extraordinary steps to achieve a first position in future Africa Games.
What are the sports that most impressed you this year?
Boxing was a silent surprise. Four gold medals cae as a big surprise. Very impressive. Wrestling did very well also, better than our projections. Most sports did well, considering the circumstances.
In which areas would you recommend the NSC to beef up?
The NSC always takes the flak for poor organization and results, but I won’t hesitate to pour encomium on Alhassan Yakmut and his team for the way the training camps were handled leading to the competition proper and even the phased transportation of our contingent to Brazzaville. But there is always room for improvement. I am privy to some plans to improve sports, so I may not have much in the way of recommendations on the pages of newspapers. But it is necessary to improve in every facet of our sporting landscape.
How do you feel that despite the huge sum of money pumped into football, our football team could only fetch us a bronze?
Every country in Africa pumps money into football. In spite of the best preparations, there is no guarantee that one can win it all, especially if everyone else has prepared adequately. I don’t think our male and female football teams went to Congo with the intention of winning one solitary bronze medal. We pray for better luck next time.
Our next stop is the Olympic Games in Rio next year. What are your predictions for Nigeria?
I think Nigeria has the potential to win multiple medals, but it will depend on how we handle preparations and welfare of the athletes and officials.
What is your wish for Nigerian sports?
My wish for sports is that of a professionally run, where athletes and coaches are focused and an establishment that will think of laundering the image of Nigeria. My desire is for an establishment that will have world-beaters. Nothing would gladden my heart than seeing Nigeria win multiple gold medals at every Olympic Games. My desire is for an elite-athlete based platform that will not be everything to everyone but will be strategic in our choice of sports, especially those in which we have competitive advantage.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing athletes living well. Many countries give diplomatic passports to their top athletes, because in the real sense, they are the real ambassadors of the country.
If we win an Olympic medal in Rio next year, I would be marginally fulfilled. I cannot however talk about full satisfaction when we are relying on the National Sports Commission for funding. We have met obstacles in our marketing drive. It is one aspect that keeps me awake, that we have a nation that feels only the Federal Government should fund sports. This is a nation that wants its athletes to dominate at the global stage, yet, does not support them. That’s the area of most concern to me.
Should Nigerians expect a gold medal from wrestling at the Olympics?
Nigeria has never won any medal in wrestling at the Olympic Games. There is also a reason why Nigeria has won only three gold medals at the Olympic Games since we started participating several decades ago. If we prepare adequately and the wrestling gods favour us, we hope someone in wrestling will sneak on the medal table in Rio next year. Early and adequate preparations must be out watchword. That is my only fear for the Olympics
Are there other issues you want us to know?
The money invested in sports is very meagre when compared to what is given to other sectors. The average Nigerian needs to understand that everyone, especially the privileged ones, need to put their money where their mouth is. It takes a lot of financial investments for athletes to give optimum performance, It is only when Nigerians wake up to this realization, that our country will grow. We have to make sports what it ought to be with our population and potentials. Rather than focus on what we can gain from the meagre funds allocated to sports, administrators at all levels need to shift attention and focus more on what we can give; and how best we can even manage the meagre finances that are directed at sports administration should be our key focus. There are too many sports administrators at all levels whose interest is to milk the system dry, rather than impact positively on the system. We will only get it right when the greed of most sports administrators is replaced by selflessness and patriotism.
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