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By: Abiodun Adewale.
Some of the student-athletes preparing to represent Nigeria at the 2023 World University Games, which holds from July 28 to August 8 in Chengdu, China are afraid of their dreams being crushed after the Nigeria University Games Association announced on Tuesday that it lacked funds to finance the trip to the competition, The PUNCH reports.
After being selected from a trial in Benin City last month, the hopes of 75 student-athletes are hanging in the balance with exactly a month to the start of the Games.
“We appeal to the government to come to our aid and support our athletes to the World University Games; we call upon the government, sports authorities and corporate sponsors to recognise the immense value of investing in university athletes. They are the future of Nigerian sports, and their success will inspire generations to come,” NUGA said in statement on Tuesday.
Acting General Secretary of NUGA, Chidiebere Ezeani, told The PUNCH that the body was racing against time to pay participation fee, buy air tickets, travel insurance, procure kits and also settle athletes’ allowance.
She added that the body had overtime struggled to get funding from government due to the uncertainty of whether it was under the federal ministry of education or youth and sports.
One of the student-athletes, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the current situation was akin to the 2019 preparations, when only one student eventually represented Nigeria in Napoli.
“Right now, my hopes are low. Exactly a month and there is even no contact with my school at all about travelling plans. I heard they have money for only 20 students out of 75. At this point, it is until we get into the plane that I will believe we are all going,” our source said.
A track and field athlete from the University of Ilorin, Musa Nureni, is, however, optimistic of a turnaround despite Nigeria’s absence at previous editions of the competition.
“Things have been quite different for NUGA recently, so I raised my hopes after the trial. This is the dream of 75 athletes and efforts of other officials. I hope the government comes through for us,” Nureni told The PUNCH.
Seventeen-year-old Damilola Oyedepo, who qualified to play badminton from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko says her preparations are ongoing as she is currently attending the African Beach Games in Tunisia.
“We are not only training for FISU, but also for other competitions. FISU Games is the biggest thing for me at the moment, I will be sad if it turns out that we cannot go,” Oyedepo said.
Another badminton player from Adekunle Ajasin University, Motunrayo Abiola, remains optimistic that their ambitions won’t be crushed.
“My target is to go there and put in all my best so as to make myself, my family, my coach, my school and the country proud. I still have this strong feeling that we will go for this trip,” she said.