Sports in our schools

By Clem Oluwole

.The National Sports Commission’s intention to establish a separate body to be responsible for sports in our various educational institutions is a laudable one.

The proposal is being made so as to co-ordinate schools’ sporting activities in the country and to ensure maximum participation of the higher institutions of learning in sports.

Consequently, the Assistant Director of Sports, Mr. J. A. Elueze, is to take charge of sports concerning secondary schools, teachers’ training colleges and technical trade centres, while Mr. Dan Enajekpo takes charge of sports in universities, polytechnics and advanced teachers’ colleges.

The task before the NSC is not an easy one in view of the uncooperative attitude of some school principals who strongly feel that sports and academic work are two parallel lines.

They should be made to appreciate the fact that over 90 per cent of this country’s sports population is made up of students in our various institutions.

There have been cases of students being frustrated for showing interest in sports. It will not be too much to call on the Federal Government to promulgate a decree making it an offence for any principal to penalize any student for his or her contribution towards sports development in the country.

Eagles, this is our chance

Our Green Eagles are at home tonight against the uncompromising Moroccan national team to decide who represents Africa in the Montreal Olympic Games in July, this year.

In my commentary shortly after the African Nations Cup soccer competition, I pointed out that on no account should the Eagles be disbanded until our fate in the Olympic qualifying series was known. The Nigeria Football Association has my full marks. The Ife camping of the Eagles has done the boys a lot of good and the boys themselves have promised to do the country proud.

All in all, the Moroccans are a sort of team that can do a great deal of damage to a side that is too casual against them as the Eagles found out in Ethiopia during the recent Africa Cup of Nations Championship Finals.

Eagles, this is our chance… clobber the visitors hands down tonight. For, the outcome of tonight’s match will give psychological boost to the victorious team in the second leg scheduled for April 18 in Morocco.

Good luck.

(Culled from Saturday Commentary, first published on April 3, 1976).