Renowned rugby tactician and administrator, Ntiense Williams has issued a down-to-earth verdict on why it may take Nigeria 10 years to qualify for his event at the Olympic Games.
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Although the guru acknowledged that the rugby sevens format, which features at the Olympics, is easier than the traditional 15-a-side version, he insists various factors still stand against Nigeria.
While buttressing his verdict, the long-standing technical director of Nigerian Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) pointed out that the physical condition of Nigeria’s players and lack of adequate funding are two major issues working against The Green Stallions’ getting a ticket to the Olympics or Rugby World Cup.
The man fondly called ‘Mr Rugby’ took time out to explain the various formats of rugby but, while recalling how Nigeria made it to the Commonwealth Games in 2008, he concluded that a global appearance is way beyond the nation in this decade.
Williams retorted in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng: “Rugby has two main versions in the world. There is sevens rugby, which features at the Olympics, and 15s rugby, which has its own World Cup.
“Nigeria may struggle in the 15s rugby, because that is the traditional form of this game, and we may not have the right body size that goes with it.
“However, with Sevens Rugby, Nigeria is very well suited to qualify for the Olympics. We actually qualified for the Commonwealth Games in 2008.
“I believe that, if the necessary funding and proper training programme are in place, we can qualify for the Olympics. I also believe that our female team has a very good chance as well to qualify.”
He then put aside optimism and sentiments to face realities of the moment, and concluded that the current qualification process does not favour Nigeria.
“Unfortunately, only one spot is available in the female category and only two slots for the male from Africa. That makes it a bit tough to be the only team or one of two from Africa.
“But, it’s not undoable, and I believe that, if all hands are on deck, probably in the next 10 years, we should be able to hit it (by qualifying for the Olympics),” Williams concluded.
