By Ben Efe

One of Nigeria’s best known throws coaches, Michael Lati Obisesan has been snatched by the Saudi Athletics Federation. He joins the ever growing list of Nigerian coaches who are working in the middle East, much to the detriment of Nigerian track and field.

Obisesan, an experienced and well traveled coach, joined the Middle East bandwagon in July and have settled well in Saudi Arabia, where another Nigerian coach Taiwo Ariyo has been doing remarkably well.

“We have no choice than to move to a country, which is ready to spend money to develop its athletes.

In Nigeria we have the money, but when everyone is just thinking that it is all about oil and political power and nothing else; then our youths and those who will teach them will continue to suffer,” said Obisesan who is on break from his duties in Saudi Arabia.

He said that it was a hard choice leaving the shores of this country. This is because of the athletes under his tutelage, some of whom are just cutting their teeth in track and field.

“When I was leaving I thought about the athletes I was coaching, most especially the juniors. They have been working really hard and made some improvements.  “It was a hard choice, not just because of the money, but I had to leave because I was going to work with people who know what they are doing and are ready to spend to achieve goals. As a professional, I have to go because I want to be able to enjoy what I am doing,” said the coach.

However, he has not forgotten Nigerian athletics.

“Me and other coaches who have left we are always thinking about how to help the country. When my sojourn in Saudi is over, I hope to raise funds and open a centre where I will be coaching Nigerian athletes and indeed others from elsewhere. We can only pray that we get our acts right in this country, because we are a great people and we have talents everywhere it is just that we as a country we have lost our focus and priority.”