Whats up with this guy? I’m suprised I’m just realising this dude runs for Portugal, and he has been since 2001. Wow I’m so stale on track and field. Ok so here we have the issue of patriotism come up again in Nigerian sports. We all know Nigeria doesn’t have the best Sports system and our athletes aren’t very well taken care of. But is that enough reason to run for a “foreign” country? I was watching the olympics tonight and mentioned Francis Obikwelu of Nigeria, not knowing I mentioned the wrong country. I really had never heard anything about him running for Portugal till tonight. So i Google him and find out when and why he stopped running from Nigeria. Last time I checked he was one of our best.
He then made a decision to run for Portugal. The news was broken in July 2000 by Nigerian sprinter Mercy Nku, who like Obikwelu is based in Lisbon. She said Obikwelu took the decision because of neglect by Nigerian sports officials when he was injured while representing Nigeria in Sydney. “He had to go to Canada to undergo an operation on his knee spending his own money.” He became a Portuguese citizen in October 2001.
Hmm…now will I ever decide to compete for another country in sports if I’m not given the right medical treatment by my country? Never. It would be different if he grew up in Portugal or never competed for Nigeria, but to compete for Nigeria then later for Portugal, doens’t seem too right to me. Mercy Nku is also based in Lisbon, and might be a Portugese citizen too, but is she running for Portugal? No. The thing is the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is not equal to Nigeria as a country. Even the Federal Government is not equal to Nigeria as a country. These organizations or governments change and are run by regular people which serve terms, and are never permanent, but the heritage of a country lasts as long as the country exists. The AFN might be corrupt and not treat athletes right, but Nigeria is a country and not a set of people that dissapointed you.
This should apply to football players too. Wearing your country’s colors at a sports event should be an honor and thing of pride.
Even also when it comes to general support for Nigeria, some people claim Nigeria will never serve them so why serve Nigeria? Part of why the US might have become such an established nation is cos of patriotism. I think Nigerians are better these days thought, with fast economic development, as there’s more to be proud of.
A story here talks about how Nigerian football players loose interest and dedication to their country once they start playing in Europe. This is didappointing, as I wish I could be a good soccer player (not that I’m not but I hardly play…lol) and play for my country, even if it was for free. Yes I said it, for free.
One Comment
Monkey dey chop baboon dey work! That is how it is in Nigeria. The issue of patriotism comes up again in Nigerian sports mainly encouraged by people like you! When you should be asking questions like why is Nigeria not taking care of its own, when they need them? You criticize to know without the knowledge of the Nigerian athlete struggles!
You are questioning the patriotism of the Athlete at the world junior in Athletics in Portugal. At that event we had been promised a daily allowance and so call Nigerian sports officials told us that our money was going to be faxed from Nigeria. When we heard that we looked at each with eyes filled with unbelief we were like “How can money be f***in faxed from Nigeria!” Things like that is a blatant disregard for our well -being!!
All these athletes are professionals! And people like you are okay with expecting people to show Patriotism when there’s no care for the well being of those who come to represent their country. Step into the shoes of an athlete ….How would you respond to being sent to another country, no money to call your own.. Waiting on money coming via fax supposedly from Nigeria, while watching officials do their personal shopping and all in the name of patriotism… Waiting for fax money! How encouraging??