SPORTS WALL OF FAME

 Air Peace honours Montreal 1976 Olympics contingent and 1980 African Cup of Nations team, writes

Chidiebere Nwobodo

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”  — Calvin Coolidge

On the eve of Montreal 1976 Olympic Games in Canada, something unusual happened. No one predicted it. After taking years of strenuous exercise and sacrifices to prepare for the much-anticipated Olympics—young, energetic and ambitious sports men and women who made up Nigeria’s contingent got their dreams of hitting global spotlight cut shot. The team that represented Nigeria was asked to pull out of the tournament immediately and return home, in protest against apartheid regime in South Africa. It was part of Nigeria’s measures, in conjunction with other concerned African nations, to get rid of apartheid government in South Africa. When the contingent beckoned to the clarion call, boycotted the Olympics and came back home, they were however abandoned. The patriotism they displayed by putting their country first was not reciprocated—even years and decades after.

Many of these sports men and women were devastated. Some of them never recovered from the huge disappointment. Some saw their once promising sporting careers fell from Olympian height to pedestrian level. It was a crash of destiny. The safety net they thought would have been provided by their motherland to cushion the adverse effects on their lives was nowhere to be found. The nation they cared so much for, in harkening to the voice of patriotism, left these patriots in the cold hands of abandonment and deprivation. It was tantamount to a mother hen leaving its chickens to predators of hunger and despondency. Some of them had died as a result of gross neglect, abject poverty and lack of recognition. Similar fate befell the national team members of Green Eagles who won 1980 African Cup of Nations hosted on the Nigerian soil.

Successive governments did not remember to honour these national heroes who paid lots of sacrifices for Nigeria. But some 47 years after the Montreal Olympic Games, fate has smiled on these hitherto abandoned patriots. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, decided that the “labors of our heroes past shall never be in vain”. The Air Peace boss took time to enumerate sacrifices of these national sports icons: “We are talking about Nigerians who used their prime to serve this country. They arrived Montreal, Canada and just on the eve of the opening ceremony, were asked to pack their bags and leave camp because Nigeria and the rest of Africa had resolved to boycott the Games as a result of support some countries were giving the then apartheid South Africa regime.

These were athletes that had prepared for four years. Some were on top of their events like Charlton Ehizuelen, Imadiyi, Bruce Ijirigho and our 4x400m men’s relay team that were sure gold or silver medal hopefuls. In fact, Ehizuelen had the world leading jump to the Olympics. They jettisoned their dreams because of Nigeria. Most didn’t recover and never had the opportunities to become Olympic medalists again in their lifetime.”

 It was a sorrowful recollection of history. But Allen Onyema chose to rewrite history for good. What used to be tales of unfortunate past has been turned into sweet memories of Montreal 1976 Olympic Games contingent that was brought back. These sports legends who gave all for the country and were abandoned, were given the reason to believe in the country again. The famous Green Eagles team that conquered African sports via 1980 Cup of Nations trophy were also adequately honored and eulogised for the joy they put on the faces of football-loving Nigerians that fateful year. These patriots were made proud by the highly patriotic Air Peace, an indigenous airline. Beyond aviation industry, Air Peace has shown leadership strides in projecting image of Nigeria and helping citizens in distress. 

Allen Onyema conferred on these legends Air Peace Sports Diplomacy Ambassadors’ Award. He did not stop there. Air Peace announced for each of them cash rewards and yearly 12 return tickets for local destinations and one foreign trip to any country on Air Peace’s routes. The award ceremony was preceded by the unveiling of historic Wall of Fame at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, were members of Montreal Olympics contingent and 1980 African Cup of Nations team had their names engraved on the wall of fame. It was not only written on the wall of fame. Even the spirits of those team members that are no longer alive will find rest knowing that their memories had been immortalised. Emily Potter, women’s basketball legend, captured its essence on these immortal words: “Heroes never die. They live on forever in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps”. 

The once forgotten sports heroes were remembered, honoured and rewarded—not by government, but a private citizen whose sense of patriotism is unprecedented. Allen Onyema has transcended from being just a human to a humanitarian. He has become a symbol of patriotism in Nigeria on how to put the nation first, especially when it has to do with honoring our sporting heroes and heroines, coming to the aid of stranded Nigerians abroad, motivating the nation’s national teams during tournaments, and more.

 He is not compelled to embark on this philanthropic cum patriotic voyage by anyone. It is self-inspired. He is without doubt a student of John F. Kennedy school of thought exemplified in the ex-U.S. president famous lines: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country”. Allen Onyema has truly redefined the standard of patriotism vis-a-vis the love of country in honouring our sports men and women. 

Nwobodo writes from Abuja via chidieberenwobodo@yahoo.com.