A Nigeria sports enthusiast, Eze Onwuka has attributed the victory so far achieved by Team Nigerian in the ongoing Rio Olympic to share luck and divine intervention rather than good preparations for the games.
He emphasised that the victories so far were not because of the good preparation but the determination of the Samson Siasia-led team whom, he noted, wanted to make a mark for themselves.
Onwuka who spoke in an interview in Awka, the Anambra state capital commended the singular efforts of Dream Team V1 in the male soccer for defeating both the Japan and Sweden in spite of the poor arrangement
The enthusiast who is Managing Director, Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra state, said that the Dream Team’s securing of a quarter-final ticket is a morale booster for the team that had turbulent build-up to the Games in Brazil.
Onwuka said that he was too excited about the ability of Team Nigeria to surpass their former performances even when it was clear that the athletes were not properly prepared for the global challenge.
“Our U-23 soccer team are doing well; I am happy with them after all the difficulties.
“Nigeria did not prepare for the Olympics; any country that goes to the Olympics for real business prepares for it in four or more years.
“And not to gather athletes for two months and send them to compete with the world’s best. “Luck gave us some fortunes in Atlanta 1996 but as a man who has invested in sports than any state government in Nigeria, l can tell you that we are not proactive.
“Our facilities are idle and no plans to prepare the athletes for victory, so it is still a trial and error thing,’’ he said.
Ezeowuka, who decried poor investment in sports in spite of its unifying factor, noted that sports rather than religion had kept the country together and should enjoy government’s attention.
“We have never invested in sports development as we should; the unity we are looking for in Nigeria can be got from sports.
“I think religion divides us but sports unite us.
“So, if there is any sector that should enjoy waver or subsidy, it should be sports not religion because it lifts more people especially the youths out of poverty.”
The U-23 male soccer team secured their quarter-finals berth after beating Japan 5-4 on Wednesday and Sweden 1-0 on Sunday. The team will play Colombia on August 10 in their final group game. [myad]
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