German expert predicts slim chance for Nigeria The 69-year old German, who has handled the German national team for 30 years said in a chat with nigeriasports.com in Abuja during this year’s Mobil Track and Field Championship aimed at selecting the country’s team to the Athens Olympics that a lot still need to be done to improve in the sprint where Nigeria is noted in the world. “There is no doubt about it that Nigeria is good in the sprint. But in the Athens Olympics, it will not be easy. The 100 metres event is open, because there are many unknown stars that will come from other countries. Such countries will come and spring up surprises”, said Thiele. He however stated that the final result in Congo meet will determine the country’s medals chances at Athens. Speaking on individual athletes such as Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, who is currently nursing injury in Germany, Thiele was emphatic when he told nigeriasports.com that it is not going to be rosy for her. “Her chances of running to medal zone in Athens would be 50-50. “Certainly, there are good doctors and physiotherapists who are taking care of her. On Uche Emedolu, who also is nursing injury in a Germany hospital, the German technocrat said his case was not as critical as that of Onyali. He needs just 10 days to rest the injury before he could involve in any rigorous activity. And between the time he sustained the injury and the Olympics, he must have recovered well enough to compete and contest the Athens Olympics medals”, he said. He however pointed out that the Nigerian athletes scattered around the world should train towards the Olympics and not only running for money. Noting the abundant talents available at the Mobil Track and Field Championship, Thiele said he would at the Athens Olympics write a comprehensive report to the Federal Government through the Sports Ministry on the development of the athletes. “There is no mincing word about the talents here in Nigeria. All they need is to be put in the right way in the right time”, he said.
Apparently envisaging that their inadequacies would be exposed, top officials of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria have clamped a not talk to the press order on recently contracted German coach, Wolf gang Thiele. The clamp down order was written on a piece of paper to the German soon after he was spotted speaking to some Nigerians whom the AFN officials suspected to be members of the press. “It’s like these people (AFN) officials have some skeleton in their cupboard, which was why they have asked Thiele not to speak to the press. In the first place, this on-going Mobil Track and Field Championship, which is an Olympic Games qualifying event is a big programme where anyone around is supposed to express himself”, said a concerned Nigerian. The German was however not disturbed at the development, but walked away from the Press Gallery of the mainbowl of the Abuja National Stadium. Report by Fidelis Ebu in Abuja 3
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