Former Nigerian football captain and renowned sports columnist, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, has ended his moving personal chronicle of the 22nd National Sports Festival, the Gateway Games 2024, with a somber and heart-wrenching reflection on the tragic death of 22 young athletes in a road accident near Kano.
The widely followed “Daily Diary” series, which had celebrated the colour, unity, and promise of the Games, took a painful turn as Odegbami responded to the devastating news that cast a shadow over the festival’s joyful conclusion.
In his latest entry titled “My Daily Diary – A Dark End to a Colourful Festival”, Odegbami offers a deeply emotional and philosophical meditation on loss, fate, and the fragility of life. He writes:
“Death, why? Why this? Why now?
Why tease young children with hope and opportunity, and then snatch both away, suddenly, like a thief in the dark?
Why terminate the lives of 22 young and gifted children ‘just like that’ when they are already within touching distance of their dreams?
Why, why, why?
Death does not answer such enquiries, of course, but I still must ask, Why?”
The children, returning home after the conclusion of the Games, were said to be just 50 kilometres from their final destination when tragedy struck. Odegbami continues:
“Why not wait a little while longer for the children to arrive at their destination, and to their families… Why not just allow them get home to display their medals and share their stories and experiences at the Gateway Games 2024?”
“Why let a Coaster bus loaded with boys, tired after traveling for 2 days, to plunge to the ground from the top of a bridge the height of a small mountain?”
“‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s…’ Did we follow this simple admonition to respect all the traditions of the ‘gods’ on Mount Olympia, to separate responsibilities to State from those of Faith?
Are there any sacred aspects of the festival where we fell short, or did wrong, or breached traditions in ignorance of the consequences, before, during and after the festival?
We seek forgiveness.
To do so genuinely is to ‘…give to God what is God’s.’”
“It is a tragedy.
It hurts very deeply.
I am now running ‘from Pillar to Post’ trying to find some acceptable landing after heaping so much praises on the Games…”
“Where will I now find some kind of happier ending to compensate for the pain that the 12,000 (less 22 now) athletes that treated Nigerians to 12 days of a beautiful feast of sports will be going through now?”
“I extend sincere condolences to the families of all the athletes and others that died in the Kano accident.
May the souls of the departed athletes rest in perfect peace.”
A DARK END TO A COLOURFUL FESTIVAL SEGUN ODEGBAMI’S SPORTS DIARY
