Shame of a nation: Nigerian youth can’t believe what’s happening to our athletes
Àjàyí Julius Ó’Fúnminíyì posted the following to Facebook on Saturday…
This morning I tried dusting off my lazy butt. I joined my twin sister, Funmilayo at her work out session. Off we went to the underfunded local stadium. The instructor had me do 7 laps of jogging round the standard pitch. After that, I jogged and walked intermittently covering the perimeter of the pitch five times, thereafter I did 120 step-ups with a 5kg wheel on both hands.
Before I finished, I was panting vigorously, my head was hot and my legs were vibrating like a barber’s clipper. At that time, I did not envy C. Ronaldo, Usain Bolts or Serena Williams. We finished the session and came back home under the morning rain.
I realize it’s not easy to be a professional athlete, either they like it or not, they must train; under the sun and in the rain. They must keep fit and compete to win nominations for major competitions.
READ – “Nobody cares about us”: Nigeria U-20 athletes run in Poland but on empty stomachs
On opening Facebook to see what’s up on Zuckerville and to read the answers people gave to Mark’s ‘what’s on your mind’ question, I learnt Nigeria under President Buhari is making athletes pay for flight tickets and cater for their own welfare at 2016 Olympics at Rio.
The president has 7 jets in his fleet and one cannot be spared to transport athletes, the president asks students who will not be able to afford high foreign exchange regime to withdraw from foreign schools while his children recently graduated from expensive foreign universities and the state’s resources were used for their welcome party. He’s asking Nigerians he referred to as ‘criminals’ come home to build the nation and this is what the real nation builders are getting as reward.
If I were an athlete who has suffered to be nominated and my country is asking me to pay for my own flight tickets and cater for my own welfare if I will represent her, I will carry a placard and advertise myself to more responsible countries, I will find all means to get out of this country and go places where my talent will be appreciated.
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