A Nigerian Paralympian, Isau Ogunkunle, who represented the country at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics is unhappy over the neglect by his state of origin, Ogun even after excelling in para-table tennis at national and international competitions. Speaking to Trust Sports, the 35-year old who caused the biggest upset at the 2019 Africa PTT Championships in Alexandria, Egypt, beating the African champion, Egypt’s Mohamed Sameh Eid, said he may dump Ogun state, if the nonchalant attitude towards physically challenged athletes continues. Ogunkunle also spoke on his performance at the Tokyo Olympics where he reached quarter-finals.
How would you describe your experience at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics?
I had a wonderful experience. Although that was my first experience at that level of para- games, I put in my best performance. As a matter of fact, I bowed out honourably at the quarter-finals. I could have gone further but I had so many challenges while preparing for the Paralympics. It took divine intervention for me to qualify for the Games. Honestly, it happened like a miracle. I had no support at all. At one point, I had to sponsor myself to even regional tournaments. In Egypt, I came second which enabled me to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics. I still don’t understand why para-athletes in Nigeria are not given the same attention their counterparts in other climes get. If we can be given half of what athletes elsewhere receive, I can confidently tell you that Nigeria will be among the best in the world. So, it is against this background that I felt satisfied with my performance in Tokyo.
Considering your performance at international competitions, including the Tokyo Paralympics, have you been hosted to a reception by your state?
There is nothing like that. Let me be honest with you, Ogun State has not done anything for us. I am not the only athlete from the state that represented Nigeria at the 2020 Paralympics. When we returned from Tokyo, we met with the Commissioner of Youth and Sports who promised to raise a memo to the Governor for us to be hosted and given monetary reward by the government for making the state proud. We were all excited about the prospects of being rewarded by our state. Unfortunately, since the time we left him, we have not heard anything from him. This has been the trend when it comes to physically challenged athletes in the state. I won two gold medals at the last National Sports Festival for the state. They promised to reward us but nothing was done. In Lagos State, all the athletes that qualified for Paralympics were given training grants by the government to prepare for the games. Here in Ogun State, we didn’t get anything. We kept hoping that the government would come to our assistance. Sometimes, I wonder if it is a sin to be willing to live a meaningful life in Nigeria despite physical disabilities
What extra efforts have you made to get the attention of the Governor in order to be given the due recognition and attention you desire?
Personally, I called the commissioner twice but it was the same old story. He said the governor was going to do something about our plight. Sadly, we are about to commence preparations for the Commonwealth Games. To qualify for the Games, we have to attend so many tournaments but there is no single sign of help coming from the government. There is no sponsorship for us to attend the tournaments.
Are you going to continue to wait on the government or do you have a plan B?
As I am talking to you, many states are talking to me to come and represent them, if my state is not ready to give me any support. So, if the situation remains like this, I may be left with no option than to dump Ogun State. This has to do with my career and I am physically challenged. I don’t have that power to hustle. I am a family man and it is through sports that I feed my family. Right now, if I find a better opportunity elsewhere, I will grab it. I prefer to compete for a state that will appreciate me. I want to be shown love and appreciation. I have to use my time and energy judiciously because there will come a time that I won’t be able to compete again.
From what you have said, it appears as if other athletes are also planning to dump the state…
There is no doubt about it. Like I said earlier, I am not the only physically challenged athlete who is in pain. We are not happy about our conditions. It is surprising that the state prefers to give priority to able bodied people. If the governor can reward the BBN winner, ‘Laycon’, who is an able bodied person, what about those of us who are physically challenged? Does it mean our complaints have not reached the governor?
Do you have any regret representing Ogun State?
When I started representing the state, I had no regret but now that I have reached the peak of my career, I think the story is not the same again. The state has failed to support me. Like I said earlier, if I find a better opportunity elsewhere, I am going to leave. I am saying this now so that nobody will blame me tomorrow. I want everybody to know what I am going through.
Don’t you have a final appeal to the government?
On behalf of all of us, I am appealing to the governor to do something by way of encouragement. But if they continue to ignore us, I will leave eventually. I have a wife and children to feed.
In all these, what has been the position of your coaches?
Our coaches are not happy that the government didn’t do anything for us. At the same time, they are not ready to speak out on our behalf. It is for this reason that I have decided to speak out for myself. Even if they don’t like my actions, I am an adult and I know what is good for me.
