Nigerian Sports Minister Senator John Owan Enoh stated that it would have taken months to order and deliver a track bike for Ese Ukpeseraye. Therefore, the Federation, in collaboration with Ese’s club in Europe and a German-owned company, arranged for a ‘Track Bike’ for Ese.
Ese had taken to X formerly known as Twitter on Thursday to thank the German track team for providing her with a track bike after receiving a late call up for the Keirin and Sprint events at #Paris2024.
“Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks. In d spirit of sportsmanship the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle.
Thank you”
Senator Enoh defended himself by stating that Ese’s post was misunderstood, as Team Nigeria had initially prepared for only one road race in cycling. He added that the team had already left for the Olympics when they received a call from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) reallocating additional slots to the Cyclist Federation of Nigeria for the Kerin and individual sprint events.
“My attention has been called to a post on social media by Ese Ukpeseraye. After reading the post and some follow up comments i swung into action. Ese’s post seems to have been grossly misunderstood, perhaps also because it didn’t seem to give proper context to the matter in perspective. It is important I make some clarifications.
“Abinitio, Team Nigeria qualified for one road race in cycling and prepared for it in terms of training and the appropriate competition equipment. Team Nigeria was fully prepared for this road race until two weeks ago after the Cycling team with the rest of Team Nigeria had already left for the Olympics, that a communication from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was received reallocating additional slots to the Cyclist Federation of Nigeria (Kerin and individual sprint). This reallocation to Nigeria was due to the disqualification of a country, leaving Nigeria as the next eligible to make the list of qualified countries to compete. Unfortunately, this additional slot required the use of a different competition equipment in terms of biking.
“For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, a very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used. It’ll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment. To therefore get Ese to compete, the Federation through Ese’s Club in Europe and working with a German-owned Company, got a ‘Track Bike’ for our cycler Ese.
Tomorrow the 9th of August 2024, Ese will race in an individual sprint, the race she originally qualified for.”
This is not the first time Team Nigeria has received negative attention in the Olympics. Favour Ofili criticized the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for not including her in the 100-meter race at the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, no officials have been held accountable for the blatant incompetence so far displayed in the competition.
