African Heroes, Losers or Jokers?

• Africans once more are the laughing stock of the international community. 
• Ill equipped politicians to ill equipped sportsmen. 

Ever wondered why you get that near disdainful pity look from colleagues, friends, etc when you tell them your are from one of  the countries that make up Africa? This article will hopefully dispel that.

Image:BBC

First it was Eric "The Eel" (Equatorial Guinea) at Sydney Olympics 2000, now we have London Olympics 2012  Hammadou Djibo Issaka (Niger) "The Snail". The so called rower from landlocked Niger came a remarkable last place at Eaton Dorney rowing competition. He finished at an outstanding 60 seconds after the second to the last rower, amidst "cheers" from the crowd. (You know the type of pity cheers a benevolent crowd uses to egg on the forlorn, fallen destitute as they struggled to reach a life line).
The 36 year old Nigerien only took up rowing in April this year. Trained originally as a swimmer, Djibo Issaka was sent to Egypt to master a sport most had been practising since their childhood years.

Joker or Hero? Djibo Issaka

He was later quoted as saying "I have no technique, only strength". Reminiscent of  The Cameroon Football Women's team successfully managing to score null point at both Olympic matches against Brazil and England. The former handed The Lionesses of Cameroon 5-0 and the later(England) 3-0. A friend was to later remark The Lionesses from the West Africans country so often called Africa in miniature, ran like women carrying a basket of cocoyams. Like Djibo Issaka, strength but no skill. I have seen more agile Lionesses as they lay in wait for the bait, skilfully planning an attack with strength, dexterity and common sense. The Cameroon Turtles will be a more appropriate name change...thick, slow and heavy.

The Lionesses of Cameroon. How about a name change to The Cameroon Turtles?

And who can forget Eric Moussambani of Equatorial Guinea who also made a name from the bottom of the Olympic swimming pile at the 2000 Sydney Games? He appeared to "sink" during the 100meter swimming race. It was later revealed Mousambani  had only taken up swimming 8months ago, and had only ever swam in a hotel pool 20meters long! To be fair on the poor soaking sod, information conveyed to him had been he would be swimming in a 50meter pool. Moussambani created a world record of his own by finishing 43 seconds outside the Olympic swimming time, even slower than those who had swum the 200meter pool race earlier! Magnifique!

All physique and no skill- Moussambani

 


 Again and again we see these Africans so poorly equipped and ill trained making a soggy mess of themselves amongst sporting elite who have been training rigorously for such sporting ventures as far back as their childhood. It is almost as if these went to bed and had an apparition of becoming a rower or swimmer overnight. Unfortunately in the real world, you have to work and train hard at excelling in sports. This often involves mental and physical stimulation and not just  physical strength.

Heroes, losers or a huge mockery of African sportsmen...I am yet to decide which adjective to hand on a Golden medal to these.