Controversies have continued to trail the list of 60 Nigerian
sports icons unveiled by the federal ministry of sports as part of
the celebration of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary.
On Friday, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development at an
event at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium,
Abuja unveiled the list.
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare,
who was also present at the event explained that the list is to
honour some Nigerians who have over the years, brought fame and
glory to the country through their sporting exploits.
After the list was unveiled, most reactions that have followed
while commending the idea behind the list, have condemned the
execution with many noting that the list is faulty.
Stakeholders observed that some people that should be on the
list are obviously absent without any reasonable explanation while
the presence of some other names on the list has caused eyebrows to
be raised.
For instance, the names of former Super Eagles captain Mikel
Obi, WBA, IBF and WBO world boxing champion Anthony Joshua, Ruth
Ogbeifo-Balofin, weightlifting Olympics silver medallist and the
first African and Commonwealth lifter to win a medal at the global
sports showpiece; Kadiri Ikhana, a 1980 AFCON winner who led
Enyimba to win Nigeria’s first CAF Champions League title in 2003,
amongst others were missing on the list.
Some other notable expectations that were shockingly left off
the list also include Shuaibu Amodu, who qualified the Eagles for
two World Cups; Kadiri Ikhana, 1980 AFCON winner and first Nigeria
coach to lead a team to win the CAF Champions League; Vincent
Enyeama, the country’s most capped footballer; Victor Osimhen, U-17
World Cup winner and record scorer at the tournament; ex-African
squash champion Samson Egbeyemi, and two-time African champions
Enyimba.
This development has continued to draw reactions from
stakeholders.
Sports journalist, Godwin Enakhena, questioned
the inclusion of businessmen Aliko Dangote and Kesington Adebutu,
while late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, sponsor of the Asoju Oba
Table Tennis Cup, which has been held for over 50 years, was
excluded.
He also pointed out that Israel Adesanya, who represents New
Zealand as a UFC fighter featured on the list while Hakeem Olajuwon
who is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all
time missed out.
“The minister should be commended for thinking about a
brilliant idea like this, but unfortunately, a very good idea has
been rubbished by not capturing the true heroes of Nigerian
sports,”
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he said.
Then added: “Yes, some of them are on the list but you
cannot have 60 icons and the first man to win a medal for Nigeria –
Emmanuel Ifeajuna – was not captured, you can’t have a list where
Okoya-Thomas is not captured.
“You can’t have a duplication where you have Garba Lawal,
Daniel Amokachi and the rest standing on their own and you also
list them in the team that won the Olympics football gold.
“I think it was well-thought out, but the implementation was
wrong. A list like this shouldn’t be thrown open for the public to
vote. The ministry should have made the list of 200 athletes across
board for people to vote from the list, not that people will just
vote randomly.
“The list did not do justice to what it should be. There are
a lot of minuses. You’ll ask yourself, what is Dangote doing on
that list, or Kensington Adebutu? This is a list of icons for 60
years, not what they did yesterday. So, it doesn’t capture it at
all.”
Below is the full list unveiled by the Ministry.
1. Chioma Ajunwa
2. Mary Onyali 3. Jighere Wellington 4. Odion Aikhoje 5. Duncan
Dokiware 6. Austin Okocha 7. Nwankwo Kanu 8. Feyisetan Are 9.
Blessing Okagbare 10. Garba Lawal 11. Lucy Ejike 12. Falilat
Ogunkoya/Atlanta ’96 4x400m 13. Sunday Bada/Sydney 2000 men’s
4x400m 14. Atlanta Olympics football team 15. Emmanuel Amuneke 16.
Chika Chukwumeriji 17. Davidson Ezinwa 18. Odunayo Adekuoroye 19.
Modupe Oshikoya 20. Peter Konyegwachie 21. Olusoji Fasuba 22. Nduka
Ugbade/Sebastine Broadricks-Imasuen/1985 Eaglets 23. Hogan Bassey
24. Dick Tiger 25. Samuel Peters 26. Barcelona 92′ quartet (Men’s
4x100m Relay) 27. Funke Oshonaike 28. Segun Odegbami 29. D’Tigress
30. Segun Toriola 31. Roland Ezuruike 32. Mayegun Nojeem 33. Sam
Igun 34. Israel Adesanya 35. Super Eagles 1994 36. Olumide Oyedeji
37. Blessing Oborududu 38. Tompraba Grikpa 39. Chidi Imoh 40.
Christian Chukwu 41. Ajibola Adeoye 42. Stephen Keshi 43. Atanda
Musa 44. Muda Lawal/Emmanuel Okala/Green Eagles 1980 45. Daniel
Amokachi 46. Rashidi Yekini 47. Teslim Thunder Balogun 48. Perpetua
Nkwocha 49. Super Falcons 50. Power Mike 51. Flora Ugwunwa 52.
Lauretta Onye 53. Sam Okwaraji 54. Nduka Odizor 55. David Izonrite
56. Chief MKO Abiola 57. Dr. Larry Izamoje 58. Mazi. Ernest Okonkwo
59. Alh. Aliko Dangote 60. Sir Kesington Adebutu
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