Day 1976 Olympic memory was rekindled in Nigeria

Last week, the memory of Team Nigeria’s botched 1976 Olympic Games participation was brought back to life 47 years after the unfortunate incident.

For those who had fully prepared themselves to represent Nigeria, it wasn’t a memorable event. In fact, it was the saddest day of their sporting career as their dream of becoming Olympians with hopes and expectations of winning medals was brutally dashed.

A check at the records of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and that of the World Olympians Association (WOA), shows that names of Nigerian athletes for the 1976 Olympic Games can never be found despite the fact that they were physically present in Montreal, Canada and spent 10 days in the Games Village.

It will be recalled that 24 hours to the kick-off of the games, the enthusiastic athletes were summoned by the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) and informed of the decision by several African governments to boycott the Games in protest.

The protest was because the IOC had failed to withdraw New Zealand from the Games for their ‘romance’ with the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Therefore, the IOC directed that all the contingents from the protesting countries should vacate the Games Village within one hour. That ended the hope and aspiration of those young aspiring Olympians who would never be.

‘We were frustrated’

That episode came with a lot of shocks, frustration and almost depression for some of the athletes. According to them, they dreamt big but their dreams were cut short suddenly. It was described as the most traumatising moment of their lives.

However, 47 years after, some of those traumatised heroes had cause to smile again courtesy of the recent unveiling of the Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos and their investiture as Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors.

The recognition was a joint initiative between the Air Peace and NIIA while the heroes of the Olympics Games were coordinated by one of them, Chief Segun Odegbami, the ‘Mathematical’, as nick-named by ace commentator Ernest Okonkwo of blessed memories.

Apart from those aspiring Olympians, members of the 1980 AFCON winning squad, the Green Eagles were also honoured in the Hall of Fame even as Air Peace showered them with mouth-watering rewards including free domestic travel for life; one return ticket annually on any international route operated by Air Peace, as well as N1.5m cash rewards.

Therefore, it was an emotional night as the country’s heroes and heroines smiled, laughed and danced over the recognition which they never expected. No fewer than 63 made the list and those who have passed away among them were represented by their relatives.

Baba Otu Mohammed known for his incredible dribbling skills on the pitch said he found the honour more rewarding than anything.

In a chat with Trust Sports, he said, “This award means everything in my professional career. I have never dreamt of this. We thank God and we thank Onyema.

“For 47 good years, I don’t want to remember all those years. We were all kept aside, many of us were frustrated and we even forgot football.

“I hope and pray that Nigeria may emulate this very gentleman, it is the way forward for all of us so that the younger ones would have hope. So this means everything to my football career.

“This is a great honour that came unexpectedly. We were not expecting it and I am so thankful to God and the organisers especially Segun Odegbami who coordinated everything,” said Mohammed.

Segun Odegbami who was instrumental to the coordination of his ex-colleagues said it was never expected.

“I am very happy. This is beyond anything that I expected. What has happened here is unprecedented. It has never happened anywhere in the world.

“This will encourage young people to do their best because at the end of the day there is a promise that their labour will not be in vain. With the benefits that you have just heard, this is the best day of my life. Not for me but the entire team.”

Why we honoured Nigeria’s heroes – Onyema

Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema said the gesture was the little any Nigerian can do to appreciate the sacrifice made by the honourees.

According to him, the honour done to the country and the black race by those players and footballers can never be fully rewarded.  He said every corporate body, companies and philanthropic individuals must do something for them.

“I decided that this honour must not go unrewarded in our own little way to give you love and recognition.

“I call on every corporate entity in this country, after Air Peace has done that, I want them to get in touch with Chief Segun Odegbami because they can’t repeat this again. I call on all the banks, you must contribute your quota to these people who sacrificed their youth and opportunities, people don’t even understand what we were talking about, their lives were dependent on those preparations and all of a sudden truncated for their nation.

“I have donated myself to be part of that team that would be moving with Segun Odegbami to knock on all the known corporate bodies in this country. When you do this, you would encourage the young ones coming up.

“The young ones don’t have any hope in this country again. A lot of companies have lost about 20 to 30 percent of their workforce and the West has opened their borders for them to come in, tapping the best of brains from Nigeria. How then do we develop this country”? he asked rhetorically.