HISTORY OF SPORTS IN NIGERIA by Olalekan Olamide S (006)

HISTORY OF SPORTS IN NIGERIA by Olalekan Olamide S (006)

Before gaining independence, couple of Nigerians had taken the world sporting arena by tempest, beating close adversaries to become champions. Any semblance of Emmanuel lfejuna who won a gold award in high jump amid the Commonwealth recreations in 1954, Hogan "Kid" Bassey who turned into the world featherweight boxing king in 1957 and Dick Tiger who won the middleweight crown and later the world light heavyweight crown could even now be recollected.

In 34 years, Nigerian sportsmen and ladies have settled Nigeria's name solidly on the map of awesome sporting countries.

Sports in Nigeria started to take genuine roots in the nation in 1963 when the National Sports Commission (NSC) started to work under Abraham Ordia as secretary. The 60's fills in as the establishments for games and the main unmistakable accomplishment was the capability of Nigeria's Green Eagles for the Olympic games held in Mexico in 1968.

In 1973, Nigeria facilitated the second All-Africa games in Lagos and furthermore presented the national games celebration as a method for finding competitors to speak to the nation in mainland and worldwide meets. The initial meeting in Lagos pulled in around 6,000 competitors.

The 1970's likewise saw gigantic accomplishments. Nigeria's senior football group won a gold decoration in the second All-Africa games while the nation's contingent to the games won a general Second position on the awards table. 1976 and 1977 saw the nation tasting triumphs in mainland titles through Shooting Stars and Rangers International of Enugu in the Cup Winners Cup Competition.

The nation's record of accomplishments proceeded in the 1980s with arrangement of accomplishments particularly in football. The bronze decorations won in 1976 and 1978 in the African Cup of Nations was enhanced in 1980. The Christian Chukwu drove Green Eagles won the Cup without precedent for Lagos. In 1984 and 1988, Nigeria again got to the finals of that title however lost to Cameroon on both events to win the silver awards.

Shockingly as well, Nigeria's Junior Eagles fit the bill surprisingly to speak to Africa in a Junior World Cup in Mexico. In spite of the fact that Nigeria did not go past the first round having lost 0-3 to Brazil, she beat very evaluated USSR 1-0 and held Netherlands to a goalless draw.

In 1985, Nigeria's under-17 football group went to China and vanquished the world in the primary ever FIFA under-17 World Cup. The triumph took Nigerian football to a high platform, setting the phase for a regard of Nigeria in universal rivalries. To demonstrate a state of Nigeria's freshly discovered quality in football, the Nations under-21 group went to Saudi Arabia for the World Cup in 1989 and lost barely in the final to Portugal. The "supernatural occurrence of Damman", Nigeria's triumph over USSR in the wake of trailing four goals behind and with just twenty-five minutes left, shocked the world amid the title.

The nation did not just exceed expectations in football in the 80s as sports gave chances to awe inspiring exhibitions. Five U.S. based Nigerians won gold awards at the World University games which occurred in Edmonton, Canada: Sunday Uti (400m), Yusuf Ali (long jump), Ajayi Agbebaku (triple jump). Blameless Egbunike (200m), and Chidi Imoh (100m). Nigeria went to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and returned home with a silver decoration in boxing through the endeavors of Peter Konyegwachie and a bronze from the 4 x 400m male group driven by Innocent Egbunike. There has been a surprising change over the accomplishments of the 80s in the 90s. The endeavors and possibilities of Nigerian abroad have been tapped for the advantage of the nation and the outcome has been exceptionally great.

To start with was the 1990 Commonwealth recreations in Auckland, New Zealand. Nigeria did wonderfully well, winning five gold, 13 silver and seven bronze decorations. A far change from past excursions. The profits from the as of late closed games in Victoria, Canada even surpassed that of 1990. Nigerians returned home with 13 gold awards and many silver and bronze decorations.

With the elation of the 1990 recreations, the nation raged the Barcelona Olympic games in 1992 and again, there was a change from past records. The quartet of Olapade Adenikan, Chidi Imoh, Kayode Oluyemi and Davidson Ezinwa won the silver in the 4 x 100m, while the ladies driven by irrepressible Mary Onyali caught the bronze award in a similar occasion. Two Nigerian boxers additionally won silver awards. It was a snapshot of euphoria for all Nigerians. Football in the 90's took Nigeria to more prominent statures. In the vicinity of 1990 and 1994, Nigeria won silver, bronze and gold decorations in the half-yearly Africa Cup of Nations rivalry. The most recent triumph coming fourteen years in the wake of winning the container in Lagos.

Before now, BCC Lions FC of Gboko had won the Mandela Cup in 1990 while Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan won the lady version of the con-league of African Football (CAF) glass in 1992. Bendel Insurance FC of Benin included more quills by winning back the CAF container in 1994 additionally included the West African Football Union (WAFU) glass to her kitty.

Nigeria fit the bill interestingly to speak to Africa in a senior World Cup and did it in excellent style. She turned into the principal nation to win her first World Cup coordinate and the first to progress past the first round in her endeavor. In spite of the fact that the Eagles lost in the second round, they had dazed the world and Nigerian stars have turned into the toast of enormous football clubs everywhere throughout the world.

The deed performed by the Golden Eaglets in Japan is paramount. For the second time, Nigeria won the FIFA under - 17 title making her the main nation to accomplish such deeds. In a universe of football goliaths like Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina, the accomplishment of the Golden Eaglets and Nigeria is to be sure astounding.

Nigeria has likewise delivered incredible games stars like Hakeem Olajuwon in Basketball, Nduka Odizor in garden tennis, Mike Okpara, a previous world wrestling champion, Atanda Musa, Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi and Richard Owubokiri who have made the country glad these 41years.

Disregarding these triumphs, the nation's sporting world has tasted mishaps, dissatisfactions and tragedies. Nigeria football endured a noteworthy mishap in 1977 when Nigeria's Godwin Odiye's own-goal prevented the nation from going to her first world container rivalry in 1978. Different frustrations were in 1981 and 1989 when Nigeria was ceased by Algeria and Cameroon individually under difficult conditions.

In 1989, FIFA heavy hammer fell on Nigeria and she was in this manner prohibited for a long time from taking an interest in age review rivalries because of errors in times of players who had played for Nigeria.

The Seoul Olympics of 1988 was another debacle for Nigerian competitors. Again like in 1980, the competitors returned without a solitary award. Most exceedingly bad still was the Green Eagles group which had gone to the games as most loved yet totally missed out. The demise of Dele Udoh, Nigeria's most encouraging 400m gold award trust in 1979 took the games group in Nigeria off guard. He was slaughtered by the police in a checkpoint in Lagos when he came to take an interest in an athletic meeting from the USA.

Likewise in 1979, a conflict between supporters of UCC Shooting Stars FC of lbadan and Bendel Insurance of Benin after a test container semi-final match in Lagos in which the Benin group lost 0-2 prompted the passing of twenty-six individuals. It was lamentable. Another catastrophe that hit the soccer world was the demise of an enthusiastic soccer wizard, Sam Okwaraji who drooped and kicked the bucket at the national stadium in a world container qualifying match against Angola. It was an appalling knowledge as Nigerians had acknowledged not just the football abilities of the late player however, his enthusiastic energy which were unparalleled.

Disaster again struck the nation when players and authorities of lwuanyanwu Nationale FC coming back from a mainland engagement were included in a plane crash. Two players - Animnwosa Omale and Uche Ikeogu with three group individuals lost their lives while numerous others were truly harmed.

Kayode Oluyemi, an individual from the Nigerian silver winning group at the Barcelona Olympics was included in an unpleasant engine mischance which asserted his life while Sunday Uti, another awesome competitor is discounted of games for life as he had a broken leg. The misfortunes of Nigerian games these previous 41 years regardless, Nigeria has remained a dear country to games significant others everywhere throughout the world.

*©Olalekan Olamide S (006)*