NANKA (ANAMBRA) – Rev. Fr. Obinna Dike says Nigeria must return to the basics by making sports and football in particular a culture if it must get it right at the continental and world stage.
Dike, a FIFA grade one coach, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria
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(NAN) in Nanka, Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra.
He spoke at the opening ceremony of the maiden sports fiesta for Catholic Priest in Awka Diocese on Wednesday.
Dike, who is the Director of Sports administration, Catholic Archdiocese of Awka, regretted the absence of the Super Eagles at the just-concluded (Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Equatorial Guinea.
He said the development was a manifestation of lack of commitment and insincerity of the administrators at the Nigerian Football House.
The priest said Nigeria, must evolve a culture of sports where sports became part of the college system as seen in North Africa and European countries.
He also said that corruption and not technical department was the major challenge to the growth and development of Nigerian football.
“Nigerian football will grow when the administrators pursue transparency as is seen in western countries.
“We also need to develop it as a culture and make it part of the college system and school programmes instead of beginning at 18 and find it difficult to improve afterwards.
“Generally, African football is growing but the pace is slow, thank God we are moving at all.
“But painfully, Nigeria missed out of the Nations Cup, due to the problem that is not essentially of the bench but the society.
“There is need to clean up the administrative system as I can see them doing now, I believe soon, we shall get there,” he said.
On the priests’ Games, Dike said it was for the physical and mental wellbeing of the clergy in the dioceses and also a practical example to all on the benefit of keeping fit.
“The Games is all about fitness, wellness, talent identification and excellence; we all need to be fit and as it enhances wellness spiritually, intellectually and mentally.
“Here we identify talents, train them, nurture them and take them to where they want to be socially, it is a vocation and an enterprise,” he said.
NAN reports that the Games are featuring football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and badminton. (NAN)