Benue’s love for swimming

Benue’s love for swimming

By Clem Oluwole

The 2nd Benue Sports Festival took place in the state capital this week. Like in other states, the festival was aimed at selecting a cream of athletes to represent the state at the forthcoming National Sports Festival to be held in Ibadan in September, this year.

Events that featured at the Benue fiesta included swimming. Benue State seems to be in love with swimming. And I think this is understandable. How could a state like Benue which derived its name from the majestic River Benue be left behind at the swimming event of the National Sports Festival?

But unfortunately for Benue and its swimmers, there are no modern facilities for the sport in the state. And since love is blind, as they say, the Benue Sports Council has formed a dangerous habit of using the overflown banks of River Benue to achieve its objective. It failed. Yes, it did. Remember in 1977 during the First Benue Sports Festival, swimmers were ‘marched’ to the river for that event. And what did Benue win at the swimming in the last National Sports Festival? Not a single bronze.

I agree absolutely that swimming is one of the events in the festival that can fetch plenty of medals. But the Benue Sports Council should perhaps send its swimming coach to Bendel and Lagos States which have won the pride of place in that event in the past National Sports Festivals to see what facilities they have for the sport. I do not think the Lagos lagoon is being used by Lagos State simply because it would be an insult for that state not to command the respect of other states in swimming despite the blessings of the lagoon.

If Benue State is indeed very much ambitious in swimming, it should construct without further delay a modern swimming pool where its swimmers could practise from time to time.

As for the courageous swimmers who, out of interest and love for swimming, plunged into the river and came out alive, I say congrats. I wish them the best of luck next time so that they live to be congratulated.

Conventional training facilities for swimmers are what the Benue swimmers need and not a biennial pilgrimage to River Benue.

I am now waiting for another defence from the Benue Sports Council. In 1977, I commented on the use of the River Benue for that state’s Sports Festival swimming event and the council fired back. I am waiting.

(Culled from Saturday Commentary, first published on June 30, 1979).