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The way to the Top
By Toyin | October 15, 2008
I’ve had to wonder many times why our sports, particularly football seem to oscillate like the proverbial grandfather’s clock. This fact is even more true of us a nation. Today we seem to be going forward and by tomorrow we are back to square one. We are also very quick to ascribe everything to a learning process forgetting that where we are going (or intend to get to) is not a novelty; nations are getting there meeting those who are already there.
Prior to the commencement of the FIFA World Cup in USA in 1994, Nigeria was the fifth rated team in the world and we went on to give a very good account of ourselves at the tournament. Since then, it has been one tale of woe or the other save for the ‘Dream Team 1’ golden effort at Atlanta’s Olympics two years later.
Even when we hosted major football tourneys twice, FIFA under 21 World Cup in 1999 and Ghana-Nigeria CAF’s AFN 2000; we were unable to come out on top on the two occasions. From 1994 in Tunisia where we won our last Nations cup up till 2008 when we were disgraced by Ghana in the quarterfinals, Nigeria won silver and three bronze medals within this period. In between, our team failed to qualify for the world cup in Germany in 2006.
The performance above sums up my opening in this article that we just seem to oscillate when we should have taken the step to the next level and that being the reality of winning championships consistently. Many people may believe that we have not done two badly and while I don’t think that our reality is a disaster; my sincere take is that given the abundance of talents that we have and the kind of resources God blessed us with as a nation; Nigeria belongs only to the top.
The last statement above is not limited to sports alone. In every facets of life, we are not supposed to be found on the lower rungs of the ladder. In my candid opinion, ours is one of the most blessed countries in the world. Even though most emphasis are placed on our abundant natural resources, I strongly believe that our greatest resource as a nation is our human capital. Think of it, the most courageous, intelligent and effective entrepreneurs in Africa are Nigerians.
The purpose of putting down these thoughts is not to start reeling out names but I would want to use just two examples to drive home my point that there is indeed a Way to the top. This Way, if adopted in our sports, especially in football, would catapult us to the top in no time.
Firstly, lets us take a look at a distinguished Nigerian known as Mike Adenuga (Jr). According to information available to me, he started his entrepreneurial adventure over thirty years ago selling car tapes and some household electronics. Before long, he had amassed a sizeable chunk of money to go into properly structured business concerns and as they say ‘the rest is history’. The latest success in his arrays of outstanding business initiatives is the national pride called Globacom.
The possible outcome of any enterprise can be determined by merely looking at the people driving it. Otunba Mike Adenuga (Jr) ensures that processes that are in place for SBUs are manned by competent and reliable individuals. Clear targets are set and that performance evaluations to enable objective reviews are constantly carried out. This of course is to ensure that the goals and objectives of each business are kept in view and any tendency to derail is absolutely removed.
For Nigeria to succeed as a nation, we must look inwards and put the right people in charge of our national interest. A situation whereby we deceive ourselves that things would ‘sort’ themselves out is absolutely unproductive and will not get us to the top. We must be prepared to set ourselves targets and define the criteria for evaluation.
How do we achieve our aims?
Innovation is the driver of the future. When we refuse to innovate or are unable to do so, the result of course is that the nation or the enterprise will depreciate. When Globacom got set to launch, they were either going to join the bandwagon and in the process crawl behind two pacesetters or be innovative and change the whole scenario. They chose to do the latter! The company came out with ‘Per Second’ billing and people trooped to the network.
As a nation, a sporting one for that matter, we must dig deep into the reserves of wisdom that is within to proffer solutions to the mirage of challenges facing us. We cannot allow ourselves to be molded by circumstances; rather we should set to make our own destinies. This does not come easy but given a try, soon, we should be on our way to the top.
Secondly, take a look at Alhaji Aliko Dangote. A Nigerian that is absolutely detribalized. He sees himself as a Nigerian. Chikena! According to Forbes, he is the richest Nigerian and while some others (mostly past rulers) may be richer than Dangote, he decided to invest all his money in Nigeria to better the lot of the people and by so doing, improve the economy of our nation
In the course of my duty, I’ve had the opportunity to visit at least three different Dangote enterprises and in the process made a shocking discovery-there are more Nigerians from other ethnic groups than Hausa in top positions in the set ups.
What has this got to do with sport (football)? The day that we as a nation decide to be set on doing things based on merit and not on sentiments represents the time of our departure for lofty heights and unparalleled achievements.
The fact that someone is my brother does not negate the reality of suitability for any national assignment. After all, who would allow a person to drive him knowing he cannot do so based on familial bonds? Neither will we be comfortable allowing our spouses to pilot a plane we are traveling in knowing he/she has not been trained to do so even though we seriously love them!
When we start handling national matters, be it sports or otherwise with the way and manner we handle issues concerning our well being and safety, then we will surely be on our Way to the Top.
Topics: Nigerian Football |