By Uzor Odigbo
Ex-international, Moses Orode Oyiki, has expressed delight over the performance of athletes in the continent at the on going Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba.
The former 110m hurdler and now a legal practitioner in the UK said in a chat with TheNicheng.com Newspaper that Africa has got talents which is currently on display in Asaba, he frowned at what he reffered as lack of enough motivation for Nigerian athletes involved in the championships.
‘I’m here to be entertained and so happy that athletes in the continent are living up to expectations. Their performance have clearly shown that Africa have talents and can stand on its own alongside the rest of the world in any competition’.
He was however disappointed at what he referred to as lack of motivation for Nigerian athletes he said are yet to be issued with their new running kits four days into a competition.
‘Back in the our days, new kits alone was enough motivation for any athlete to give his best, but when its not forthcoming and you watch athletes from other countries donning their new kits, it lowers morals and puncture performance.’
‘I always remember getting my new kits at the beginning of every competition which boosts my confidence to do my very best for my country, but when you don old kits in competition such as this, it doesn’t look good and that’s the reason in my opinion, performance are not the way many of us expected’ Oyiki said.
He also alluded to the fact that the running tracks was not well laid. ‘One of my good friends whose technical competence cannot be rivaled told me that no athlete can break records or run fast times on the Asaba tracks except the facility is relaid and I believed him’
Oyiki however believe that with time and more preparations, Nigerians won’t have to watch while other nations chart away medals in the events we previously do well.
‘I say this because, in as much we are building sports infrastructures, let us also build and prepare athletes for competitions’
‘How comfortable are we when one athlete pulls out of any event everyone catches cold. In the past it was not possible, but today, its happening in Nigeria, this should stop’
He however attributed some of the malaise to the frosty relationship between AFN president and his board members and advised that all should come together for a common good of athletes and Nigeria as a country.