IKPO IGBINOBA/Lagos
Adebayo Aliu
With poor preparation and controversial team selection, Nigeria took an uninspiring contingent to the 21st Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Disgrace loomed as athletics, boxing, table-tennis and weightlifting, sports which hitherto were the country’s forte failed to provide the desired medal haul.
Thank goodness for para athletes (physically challenged) who salvaged the situation.
They rose to the occasion with a stellar performance which saw them smashing three world records in powerlifting and boosting Nigeria’s total medal haul with five gold, three silver and two bronze.
At the end of the games, Nigeria finished a respectable ninth position on the medal table with 24 medals made up of nine gold, nine silver and six bronze.
But instead of sending the para athletes into raptures, the performance has triggered fresh agitation for a better deal from the sports authorities.
Adebayo Aliu has represented Nigeria as a wheelchair athlete and coach in the All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games and a host of other international competitions.
He’s not surprised by the performance of the special athletes at the Gold Coast games.
He told PM EXPRESS in Lagos “We (disabled athletes) have always lived up to expectation whether at the Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games and other international competitions.
“We have never disappointed and we will never disappoint”
“But in spite of the laurels we have won for this country”,Adebayo continued “What have we gained as para athletes? What have the sports authorities done to help our career”? The wheel-chair race coach accused the sports authorities of only remembering para-athletes on the eve of major games, because of the medal prospects in para-sports.
“The sports authorities only remember us during major games. They know with para-sports, the country will reap a rich harvest of medals.
Now, the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games have ended.
And what happens after the games?
Adebayo volunteered an answer to his own question in a tone of lamentation
“Now that the games are over, the sports authorities have forgotten everything about para-sports and para-athletes.
“Until the next major games, they will never think about us. They always use and dump us”.
The coach revealed that the Sports Ministry does not commit a dime to para sports.
“Can you believe that para athletes buy their wheel-chairs and other equipment, fund their training and even pay their way to international competitions and Paralympics qualifying tournaments? That’s our present reality. To put it decently, we are an abandoned bunch”.
“I sometimes wonder what the Sports Ministry does with its annual budget if it can’t fund even local tournaments for para-sports?
Adebayo said now was the time for the authorities to change their attitude to para sports and alter its sad narrative.
He declared “We have done a lot for this country and we deserve a better deal now”
“What we are asking for is only a fraction of the sports ministry’s budget to provide equipment, organise local tournaments, and sponsor athletes participating in qualifying events for major games”
Adebayo enthused “If we get this support from the ministry, we will rule the world in different sporting disciplines and bring more honour to the country.
We are blessed with talents”.