If I were a governor

(4)
If I were a governor

By Clem Oluwole 

A colleague of mine told me recently that it was the Eagles’ African Unity Cup triumph that eventually blew off the ban imposed on sports equipment. In other words, all the appeals and commentaries condemning the rationale behind the ban could not cut an ice until the Eagles arrived at the scene.

Really, the Eagles are mightier than the pen. It does not matter what influenced the government to lift the ban slammed on the importation of sports kits during the ban spree embarked upon in the early part of last year by the last military regime in a desperate bid to conserve our foreign exchange earnings.

Like the saying goes, it does not matter if a woman kills a snake sighted by a man provided the snake does not escape. I personally concede victory to the Eagles.

Remember, I wrote in this column twice about the unfortunate ban. I made it abundantly clear that the inclusion of sports equipment in the list of the items banned amounted to making a U-turn in our determined efforts to attain glory in the world of sports.

What followed the ban was scarcity (not artificial) of sports equipment. The climax of it was the astronomical rise in prices of the few that were either in stock before the ban was imposed or those smuggled into the country.

Some poor clubs and even individual sportsmen and women were forced out of the scene for lack of equipment to train or play with.

I have watched with disgust some players at matches in Jos, where boots don’t last for long, wearing Adidas on the right foot and Puma on the left. Some players of some teams wear long sleeve jerseys, while others in the same teams wear short sleeve. Funny combinations… which can be very demoralizing.

I had a chat with a sports equipment dealer friend, Reuben Nzeakor, the other day and he made me understand that it would not be easy to get these goods into the country because they have been placed under licence… which would be difficult for an individual to obtain. That was not so before the ban.

Since it is now difficult for an individual sports dealer to obtain the special licence (but this should be reviewed), various state governments could apply for the licence for their sports councils so that they can import these kits needed to enable us produce and nurture our budding sportsmen and women to stardom. In an amateur set up like ours, the only incentives we can give our local talents to encourage them the more is to provide them with adequate equipment. When the goods are imported, the various councils can set up sports shops in the LGAs where these items can be sold to our numerous athletes in the localities at reasonable prices.

But let us get a point straight. It is one thing to flood the scene with equipment, and it is yet another to provide facilities with which to use the equipment to achieve the desired goals. For instance, a football team has all the kits to train with but facilities like training grounds are either limited or not available. Construction of sports complexes is not enough.

The importance attached to sports by various state governments in the country today has been demonstrated by plans to construct modern stadia in the state capitals that lack such facilities. Plateau state is planning to commence work on its own stadium complex this fiscal year. But I cannot mention a state that has adequate facilities for training even at the state headquarters.

If I were a governor, I will create four centres at the outskirts of my state capital alone. Each centre will have at least six training ground complexes with facilities for athletics, football, hockey, volleyball, makeshift wrestling, judo and boxing gyms, etc. to be managed by a special division in the sports council. Besides building zonal stadia in the LGAs, there will be training grounds scattered around the LG headquarters where land is surplus. Even if it means acquiring the land compulsorily, I will do so and pay adequate compensation.

And to create a down-to-earth atmosphere of awareness in the society, I will make it a law for my commissioners, permanent secretaries and all civil servants to engage in one form of sports at a particular time of the day, five times a week. Weekends will be free. Annual sports competitions at primary schools level will form part of the schools curricula. For, it is from that stage that you can build solid foundation. This was so during the colonial days. It is a legacy we should not destroy. And I still cherish my own experiences during my primary school days.

In that case, my sports ministry will be one of the richest. Experience has shown that sports build a sound mind in a healthy body and less money will be spent on hospital bills.

(Culled from Saturday Commentary, first published on May 17, 1980).