By Ikeddy Isiguzo
FRIENDSHIP is a word that has fallen into frequent disrepute over abuses that have become part of it. I am therefore a bit reluctant to describe people as friends even if we so regard ourselves.

I have known Stephen Okechukwu Keshi since 1978 when he led St. Finbarr’s to that memorable Principal’s Cup tango with St. Gregory’s  both schools are in Lagos . He was a great footballer and is turning out a fine coach. His records speak for him.

Samson Siasia I also know, way back too, a few years before his team, with Ali Jeje as captain, narrowly missed advancing in Nigeria ‘s first outing at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship. About 10 years ago, I found out he was related to one of Nigeria’s best multi-talented athletes Joe Roland Siasia, high hurdler and sprinter, who dominated his specialities in the 70s, sharing the bliss with Godwin Obasogie, for years the best hurdler from these parts. I knew Joe Roland by reputation and performance.

When I heard they were the only ones who applied for the Eagles coaching job, I knew the selection would be difficult. Like Keshi, Siasia is a great guy with his recent successes with the youth teams (silver medals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics) standing him out.

Could both have been asked to work together? Would Nigeria have benefitted more from such partnership than allowing only one the job? I am just pondering how such decision could have changed the course of history and may be give us a better team.

As I welcome Siasia to the job, one of the things that we could learn is that we still need to pay attention to the careers of our athletes, in all sports. We should know which athletes would make good coaches and guide them in that direction as they advance towards concluding phases of their careers.

Some top athletes have coaching skills, some who have acquired coaching credentials, but Nigeria fails to use their experience, to make them change agents in our sports.

Many sports appoint their technical committees without realising the importance of the work the committees do for their sports. If these committees work well, they will save Nigeria from tensions that surround appointments and the factious bearings they bring to our sports.

I consider Keshi’s absence from an Eagles role a big miss for Nigeria . He may be snapped up again by another country, but his heart remains with the team he has offered himself so often to lead.

As Siasia begins his long awaited tenure, he has good knowledge of the team and great goodwill that he can extend if he takes help, wherever he can get it. Congratulations Siasia, the expectations are high and results will be everything, yes everything.

Re: Life Ban, No Solution
I have just read, with interest, your Crisp Shots column (of 5 November 2010) on life ban for doping offences for Nigerian athletes. Having written a dissertation on the subject of anti-doping pursuant to a sports law degree, I have a few thoughts on the issue.

Whereas one appreciates the seriousness with which the Minister wants to deal with the issue, the instant life ban approach is not only high-handed but also not properly thought out.

The World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, as contained in its regulations, rightly regards doping as a serious offence. It also attracts strict liability; hence an offender is punished whether or not the banned substance was ingested unknowingly or with intention to gain an unfair sporting advantage. However, like you pointed out the essence of a hearing is to allow for facts such as innocent/inadvertent doping to mitigate punishment.

In the doping cases involving Nigerian athletes at the Commonwealth Games, there was talk about prescribed medication being the cause of the presence of banned substance in their bodies. A situation where an athlete is given medication for a health issue, which in the end results in a life ban, due to no fault of such athlete, is not only unjust but ridiculous.

The Sports Minister should first concentrate on upgrading our anti-doping crusade to keep abreast of the international standards (including keeping our sports medical personnel up-to-date with the evolving list of banned substances).

Applauding the mere building of a laboratory is like applauding the building of prisons instead of sensitising people against crimes. Unless athletes, coaches and medical personnel are updated on the current international standards on doping, the anti-doping laboratory will be filled with cases, just like our prisons. That way we can achieve more in terms of preventing (inadvertent) doping. A large number of cases border on inadvertent ingestion of banned substances.

While one concedes that there will always be bad eggs who brazenly engage in doping, automatic life ban is inordinate especially where it amounts to stripping a professional of his source of livelihood.

Kelvin C. Omuojine, [email protected]
A lot work needs to be done on our doping programme. Too many government policies are announced without a deep thought about their implications. Nigeria ‘s doping programme is ruined without proper focus. I hope those appointed to manage the programme will apply their professionalism to steer it to global standards. Without such dedication, failure is guaranteed.

Please email comments, condemnations, or commendations to [email protected]