Commonwealth double gold medallist, Blessing Okagbare, has lamented the lack of focus on grassroots talents in the country by the authorities.
Barely 48 hours after she inspired Nigeria’s women 4x200m team to a gold medal win at the IAAF Relays in Bahamas, Okagbare criticised the Nigerian officials for failing to build talents from the home front.
Nigeria has recently been recruiting foreign athletes to wear the colours of the country at international competitions as witnessed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
She wrote on her Facebook page on Monday, “What a show of shame the administration has become!
“Honestly, I have been so calm about these people killing our grassroot section and home-based athletes with their recruiting of athletes from other countries instead of building the great talents that we have.
“They sit down, criticise the athletes back home that they are not improving or doing enough to be at the top yet they don’t do anything to support them.
“They rate their recruits above the great talents that the country have, paying money and rent to athletes, who have not even shown up to our Nigeria trials just to look good.”
“Enough is enough with the short cuts to success because, our nation and athletes are so better than this. For those hoping for a change in our Nigeria track and field should not just wait but also pray.”
The 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist had after their victory in the 4x200m, come out to criticise the officials for not picking the best legs for the country’s race saying that the athletes had picked themselves to run the race and ensure the victory.
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