SPORTS bring fame, it could turn one to a billionaire overnight and you become fans favourite, yet it could destroy one if not well managed. Sports will throw you up and bring you down. You could dine with presidents, the high and mighty in the society.
To confirm this, when Anthony Joshua had an accident few days ago, President Tinubu was by his bedside to console him and wish him a quick recovery. Nothing else could be bigger than that. Prominent Nigerians have passed on but President Tinubu never visited their families. That is what Sports could do for you.
However, last year was not too good for our sports men and women. Some sports analysts attributed it to youthful exuberance.
The likes of Etim Esim had his career cut short allegedly due to this. Recently, flying Eagles defender, Daniel Daga had his contract suspended due to the same youthful exuberance. Many of our athletes seems not to learn from what happened to Blessing Okagbare who was banned for 20 years and may retire from there because age will not be on her side by the time she completes her suspension.
In this last year too, promising athletes , Godson Brume did not make use of his senses when he threatened her ex-lover with a gun and only God knows what will happen to him in the United States.
A lack of strong sports development programs, mentorship, and ethical guidance to me could be responsible, thus, could leave young athletes unprepared for fame and its responsibilities, exacerbating issues.
Some behaviours stem from gaps in moral and social value inculcation with families and society, which is very common among Nigerian youths.
The complex environment in some places in Nigeria shapes how most of them play out. There was this player in Warri Wolves some ten years ago who was fond of funny behaviours. The European Coach in charge of the club took time off to find out his back, which revealed he grew up in the barracks. The talented player did not last because not everybody will tolerate his antics. They do what they cannot do in Europe and go Scot free. The law will not permit you to do that, hence, when they come home, they exhibit total youthful exuberance.
Many of them due to youthful exuberance go haywire once they make money like the present day modern ritualist called yahoo boys. They turn truants; commit all sorts of atrocities, leading to pre- mature retirement from the game. Often, they give sports administrators’ sleepless nights and tarnish the image of the country.
Let the truth be told, youths are the greatest asset any community can possess, they are the greatest investment for a society, sustainable development and future.
The youths are usually prone to many behavioural influences during their youthful phase of life which can either make or mar their future.
It is unfortunate that youthful exuberance often overpowers rational thinking and that the end result can lead to tragedy.
Therefore, my candid opinion is that the administrators must be involved as they grow in their career by engaging Counselor’s and psychologists to avoid what we passed through in 2025.
The government at various levels should provide corrective and punitive measures to tackle anti- social behaviours and stay puritanical to it.
It is pertinent to point out that a sport is a key path out of poverty, creating intense motivation but also immense pressure to succeed.
Thus, our athletes must be well tutored along the line and know how to manage fame and money as anything that happens to them affects millions of people.
They must purge themselves of any “yahoo related behaviour” and know that they are ambassadors of the country.
The year 2026 must be free from any scandal such as taking banned enhancement drugs.
Any athlete caught doing this should be well sanctioned within before going out to destroy whatever glory that has been achieved in the past. Constant lectures should be organized for them on the need to shun bad behaviour.
