Nigeria’s Pillar of Sport, Chief Donatus Ejidike, has called on individuals, Corporate Nigeria and Federal Government to step in their efforts at repositioning and sustaining sports development in the country ahead of 2018 busy sporting calendar. The highly travelled sports technocrat and former President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria in this interview with KENNEDY JAMES speaks on his impression on the Super Eagles qualification for Russia 2018 and the way forward for Nigeria’s sports industry. Excerpts:
As Nigeria’s Pillar of Sport, what’s your impression on the Super Eagles’ qualification for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup?
It is a good thing that this happened earlier than expected with Eagles having one game to spare against Algeria. It also shows that our game is on the rise once again and it is on record that Nigeria became the first African nation to qualify for the Mundial in Russia. You can also see that all soccer fans in the country are happy including those in Diaspora that we are going to the world cup for the sixth time after our debut at USA’94.
We thank God for this achievement and I want to express my delight with the Nigeria Football Federation and the Minister of Sports for their various roles in seeing that the Eagles land in Russia.
Share with us your expectations for the Eagles in Russia?
My expectation is simple! The Super Eagles should go to Russia and conquer the world. I want to key into the expectations and belief of the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, that they expect the team to surpass the second round finish they reached at USA’94. I expect them to do more and make the country proud by becoming the first African nation to win a FIFA World Cup. It is achieveable if the team is determined to do it!
They need to be focused and with prayers Eagles will achieve what many will see as a impossible task. Russia 2018 is an opportunity for our national team to use an annouce to the soccer-loving world that they are truely super.
My advice to our sport administrators is that they should apply transparency in the selection for athletes that will represent the nation in major international competitions next year.
The administrators should also assemble quality and experienced coaches that will help our athletes, including budding athletes, to stardom
2018 is a busy year for sport in Nigeria; what’s your advice to our sport administrators and the Federal Government toward preparing our athletes well, so that they can win laurels for the country?
I know we have the World Cup and even the Commonwealth Games holding next year, among other sporting competitions and my advice to them is that they must prepare our athletes well because, good preparation is the key to a successful sporting outing. I expect the government to make sure that enough funds are voted for our athletes’ preparations for 2018 sporting competitions in the budget.
Aside the aforementioned, I expect these funds to be released on time so that our athletes can prepare well. The issue of running from pillar to post in search of funds in prosecting tournaments and preparations for Team Nigeria must be curtailed.
Everywhere in the world, development is big business and the Federal Government must provide the needed funds with support of the private sector to help this huge industry that has helped to unify the diverse people of Nigeria.
My advice to our sport administrators is that they should apply transparency in the selection for athletes that will represent the nation in major international competitions next year.
The administrators should also assemble quality and experienced coaches that will help our athletes, including budding athletes, to stardom. Our administrators must get it right next year and we must avoid fire-brigade approach in preparing our athletes for competitions come 2018.
As former President of Karate Federation of Nigeria and currently board member of KFN, what is the new board doing to reposition Karate in Nigeria?
We are doing a lot since the new board of KFN was inagurated and I must thank the newly sworn-in President of KFN who is also the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Hon. Silas Agara, for doing well since he came into power. I actually handed over to him after a successful smooth transition of power in the federation and he has hit the ground running with the successful outings and organisation of more than three competitions.
The new KFN boss is doing his best and I can state that under his leadership, we have organised three competitions and participated in one international competition in Benin Republic where our athletes finished 5th on the medals’ table. It was a continental Karate championship.
Also, let me use the opportunity to inform you that the third edition of the National Karate Championship will be holding in Abuja between November 21 and 25 with all the athletes from the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, in attendance. It is going to be a massive competition that is expected to bring out the best from our athletes and unearth the budding ones.
Finally , what is your advice to the administrators in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, at moving sport development forward in the country?
Thank you for this question, because sports has really helped to unify and bring all the diverse people of Nigeria under one umbrella.
We have produced great athletes in the past that has helped to put Nigeria in the map of the world as a top sport-loving country with their exploits, and we must continue in this tradition. Therefore, I expect government to give sport development top priority always at least to steer our youths away from crimes. A busy youth who is interested in earning a living through sports cannot have time in criminal activities, thus all the sport administrators must be transparent in seeing that the best athletes are given the opportunity in wearing the green and white jersey of Nigeria at competitions.
Like noted by economists, Nigeria is gradually coming out of recession and I think 2018 will be better than 2017 in terms of cash flow to support sports development.
I want to also advise Corporate Nigeria to come forward and assist government in sports development by putting some of their profits into sponsoring sporting competitions next year.
There is no part of the world where government is left alone in the bankrolling of sporting competitions. Individuals and the private sector are needed to compliment government effort at sustainning sports.
As Pillar of Sports in Nigeria, my office will also be actively involved next year in supporting sports development.
