AS
the athletics events of the London Olympics, starts today, the Sports Minister,
Bolaji Abdullahi, has reminded Team Nigeria that no athlete could achieve
success without discipline, good attitude and sacrifice.
The minister, who spoke to the
contingent yesterday, warned that no athlete could achieve success without
discipline, stating: “Where there are difficult personal relationships,
discipline is down and it is difficult to succeed.
“We don’t want you to lose but if you
must lose, it must not be to other factors outside the pitch – like staying out
late at night. No country can succeed with bad attitude.
“We are here because of Nigeria. If we
take pride in our country, it comes first and we should learn to make
sacrifices. I saw 15-year-olds, 19-year-olds defy impossibilities and make
sacrifices as teenagers.
“This is first about you. People still
remember Nojeem Maiyegun, who won the first Olympic bronze medal for the
country in 1964. We remember him but none of you can remember who the minister
of sports was in 1964. I was not born then but we remember Maiyegun because of
what he achieved.
“They achieved immortality. If you win,
you will always be remembered, but nobody will remember the minister of sports.
“Nigeria has won medals since Barcelona
Olympics and I pray that you will not be the generation of athletes who will
break that order by not winning a medal. You stand on the threshold of history
and we still have great chance to do well.”
Responding, Nigerian team captain,
Chika Chukwumerije, thanked the minister and his team, stating that his advice
has been well received. He assured that Team Nigeria would get things right in
the remaining 10 days.
“We must believe in our heart what we
want to achieve and by August 12, Team Nigeria will have a lot to cheer about,”
the Beijing Olympics bronze medallist said as the athletes concurred with a
resounding applause.
The minister thereafter met personally
with the athletes and the atmosphere became more charged, as the athletes got
ready to rumble on the tracks of the London Olympics.