Adeyinka Adeboye, the Special Adviser on Grassroots Sports to the Minister of Sport Development, John Enoh, has pleaded with Nigerians to exercise patience with the minister after the dismal performance of Team Nigeria at the recently concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Team Nigeria returned without a single medal from the Games making it the third time in 1988 after the no medal outing at Seoul 88, London 2012 and now Paris 2024 Games.
The former SSA to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, said it was most unfortunate that everything panned out the way it did while asking Nigerians to accept the apology of the Minister and forge ahead as according to him, the future is bright.
“The response of Nigerians showed that they are very passionate about the games and can’t envisage a situation whereby the team will not achieve anything at the games,” he said.
“I will however call for patience as the minister just spend just a year before the Games and it is very difficult for him to be involved in what was supposed to be four years preparation.
“All the people at the ministry were not happy including the minister, but it is a big lesson and I can tell you, the Hon. Minister is already putting everything in place for a better outing in Los Angeles in 2028.
“Personally, I will take some positives from the Team Nigeria outing, one of it is the fact that the athletes were paid all that belong to them, with both foreign and home-based getting equal attention.
“We also have some young athletes taking part for the first time and I can tell you that these are the future.
“The Paralympics will be starting soon and I can assure Nigerians that they are going to make us proud.’