Nigerian sports dying gradually, Olopade tells Buhari, Sports Minister

Fifth Victor Ochei wheelchair basketball holds Sept 19-24

Claims by the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, that Team Nigeria had completed its first phrase of camping for the Rio Olympic Games has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians. This time, the President of Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, former Ogun State Sports Commissioner, Bukola Olopade, says Dalung is being economical with the truth regarding the state of Nigeria’s sports, particularly preparations for the Rio Olympics.

Olopade spoke yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, while unveiling plans for the Fifth Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball Championship, which will hold from September 19 to 24 in Lagos.

An angry Olopade said: “The sports minister is failing every sports federation and it is important someone tells him. He can’t tell Nigerians that he is happy with our preparation for the Rio Olympic Games when it is so clear that nothing is on ground. Sports is dying gradually in this country because we have never had it this bad. Millions of Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari and it is time he sat down with the minister to chart a way forward.

“Government told us that preparation for Rio Olympics would start four years ago. We have just few weeks to the Olympics. We must not use diplomacy to kill our sports. I like the sports minister, but I don’t like what he is saying concerning our preparation for the Olympics. Other sports federations’ presidents may keep quiet, but I will say it loud and clear that Nigerian sports is dying gradually. Money should be released to the various sports federations to prepare their athletes for the Olympics. I was in Durban, South Africa with Nigerian athletes for the African Senior Athletics Championship and it was a sad story,” Olopade lamented.

On the Fifth Victor Ochei Wheelchair Basketball Championship, Olopade said that 15 states and three West African countries, Togo, Ghana and Benin Republic, would take part in the event, slated for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

He revealed that the federation had spent over N200 million in sponsoring wheelchair basketball players to various competitions in the last five years, with only N7 million coming from the sports ministry.

Olopade praised Ochei, a former Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, for his support and passion for wheelchair basketball. He thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for making facilities available for the championship.