Nigeria was thrown into a celebration mood as the victorious Champions of Africa were received into the country by a mammoth crowd amidst cheers and shouts of joy. The atmosphere was electrifying as both young and old all came out in mass to welcome the Super Eagles of Nigeria. There were broad smiles and laughter as people begin to recount the heroic feat of the team in the just concluded African Cup of Nations Competitions tagged AFCON 2013 which was held in South Africa
As I make my way through O. R Thambo Airport in Johannesburg on my way back home to Nigeria from South Africa I noticed a significant change in the airport as I witnessed various shades of green and white jerseys, emblems and flags all having an inscription of Nigeria or its colours of its National flag. The feeling was gratifying as we observed proud Nigerians making their way back home with a good feeling of national rebirth and proud African Champions.
The flight back home though long was not boring as we observed people chatting and laughing all through the flights am also sure that the level of alcohol consumption for that flight would have marginally increased because the moment calls for constant drink as we canvassed by fellow passenger.
On 13th February, 2013 the victorious Super Eagles arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard a chartered aircraft sent by Government to receive the team. The atmosphere was electrifying as the team was been awaited by a crowd outside the Airport. This crowd were also encountered all through the long stretch of road from the airport to the National Stadium. There were cheers from school children, youth groups, organized social groups, workers and passer by’s even security personnel’s on duty could not help but to join in the euphoria of celebrating.
The icing on the cake was the Presidential Reception at the Villa and it was here I observed that success really have got many friends the President rewarded the team and its officials the team and coaches got a National Award, lands and Monetary reward. A situation that awaken my philosophical reasoning which made me to develop the following hypothetical question:
1. Why were other officials not given a national award and lands
2. Why were the sport managers who labored to prepare the team not rewarded
3. What would have been the faith of the Managers had the team failed to do well
4. What lesson is there to be learnt by sport managers who worked very hard to achieve this success but were not recognized nor awarded
I vividly remember one of my lecturers during my postgraduate class wherein he asked the question which is most appropriate to show gratitude for a job well done is it award or reward. Also, in another class we discussed the aspect of Athlete’s Exploitation a process whereby upon achievement of success those who were never involved in the team’s preparation or work towards such success are seen conspicuously trying to outdo all involved.
With this success I expect that Government will be convinced on the power of sport and its effects on the nation thus I had expected that by now a working mechanism that will see to the actual development of this sector will be activated and properly financed to ensure that Nigeria Sport is given its rightful place in the scheme of things within the Nation
The position been postulated here is the need for all involved in sport to be properly recognized and when required to be well rewarded and awarded for a job well done the case of the Nigeria Football Federation as an institution need not be over emphasized as their hard work and committed service has translated into bringing glory to the Nation this feat is something that I feel should be acknowledge and well recognized to stimulate the required spirit in other boards and federations towards achieving the greatness desired. We need to reward successful managers of our sport as much as we recognize the efforts of the players and technical crew.
Without over flogging this discuss let me thank the President for his recognition of the heroes of our time after all we once witnessed the era of Presidential handshake but today we have a President who have also given a handshake, National Award, Landed Property and Cash Gift what more do we need than to appreciate this gesture and say more of such is what we need to see in Nigeria.
May I also commend all managers involved in the preparation of this team because as a professional I know that the 90mins of play is a conglomeration of months of hard work and sleepless nights by the Sport Managers and such people I will like to commend for this great success as far as we are concerned the best Football Federation in Africa today and in the next two years is Nigeria Football Federation let us all join our voices as we say bravo to all concerned and congratulations to our dear country Nigeria.
