A death, a virus and a lockdown

By Steve Alabi
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Grief and gloom have unexpectedly taken over sports worldwide resulting in a global lockdown. No seer of these times saw it coming, not even Nigerian professional prophets who release predictions as a matter of yearly ritual except one seer of some antiquity. Three weeks ago, games were being played everywhere all over the world but today, even the Games of the Olympiad are under threat and may not begin, all due to a virulent virus that is spreading like wildfire across the world. In Europe, America and Asia, the coronavirus has shut down almost all sports. In Africa, domestic competitions are being shut down but continental games have been outrightly put on hold. In Nigeria, thank God the virus has not reached our sports but death struck the national passion again, snuffing life out of a 23-year old premier league player.

The death of Chineme Martins, a defender of Nasarawa United of Lafia, brings to the fore again the sorry state of medical facilities in Nigerian football, whether at the club or national level. From the earliest times, things have not always been okay in the medical units of our football clubs. At the national level, the history of medical mishaps speaks volumes about the nonchalant attitude with which we treat safety of lives in our stadia.

The most disheartening of our medical mishaps is the unfortunate death of one of the most patriotic players ever, Samuel Okwaraji who slumped and died on August 12, 1989 in a World Cup qualifier versus Angola at only 25 and after only eight caps. It is quite unfortunate that what transpired that fateful day at Sportcity is almost exactly what happened at Lafia 21 years after. The driver of the ambulance stationed for emergency was nowhere to be found. When he was eventually located, the ambulance refused to start. It had to be pushed before it spurted to life but life had already drained out of Okwaraji in those precious moments when human error conspired with mechanical fault to inflict sorrow and grief on the national psyche. The same scenario played out in Lafia last week leading to the unfortunate departure of Chineme Martins.

The clubs have a huge responsibility of providing adequate medical regime for everyone in their charge. I have always been an advocate of safety of lives and property in our stadia. I am of the firm conviction that no game is worth the life of a single individual. Since when the old Akure stadium was being refurbished so creatively under the technical wizardry of Engr. Jompo Awosika, the then Commissioner of Works in the late eighties, I have canvassed ceaselessly for the emplacement of safety measures therein. As experienced stadium managers know, entry is not as difficult and dangerous as exit, especially in emergency situations. The mass of spectators usually becomes unruly and uncontrollable in cases of emergency. It is important to have large exit points as well as public address systems with which the authorities can make important safety announcements.

The authorities must find the courage to take painful decisions to rein in errant clubs which treat safety of lives and property with incredulous levity. In my two terms as Team Manager of Sunshine Stars of Akure and as the founding General Manager of Ekiti United of Ado-Ekiti, safety was my watchword. In fact, Sunshine Stars had the best kitted clinic in the state outside the Government House Clinic. The truth behind this seemingly boastful assertion is that it did not cost much. Not only did we equip our clinic well, we also got seconded to us a certified nurse from the Health Management Board. He was complemented by an experienced medical unit of the Ondo State Sports Council on each match day. In addition, an ambulance in excellent conditions was always on standby. The only day we had a medical mishap was when one of our players, a left winger, Abubakar broke his leg, and we coped admirably.

The authorities must insist on minimum medical standards for every club playing in the Nigerian league. No club should again be allowed to reduce medical welfare of its players to a mere cocktail of glucose, paracetamol and pure water sachets handled by nonmedical enthusiasts and first aiders. No club should again be allowed to use ordinary vehicle in place of ambulance. We must learn how to respect the dignity of human life like the rest of the sane world. Expecting or praying that nothing will happen is not the way to prevent disaster. The way to do it is to emplace safety measures. This is the least that the integrity of sport demands from its practitioners.

More than at any other time, these sad times demand integrity from all and sundry, particularly from leaders of sports. Some leaders are already losing their heads to selfish interests. They are calling for the cancelation of the season even when the situation has not fully unraveled apparently because their clubs are in relegation waters. This is clearly unsportsmanlike. Integrity demands that the results and positions as at the time of stoppage be maintained if the season cannot be completed. Anything short of this is unjust and must be resisted.