I did not read or hear about it! I was discussing past Nigerian athletes with Bruce Ijirigho who was visiting Nigeria this past week when Musa Dogonyaro’s name came up! Of course, you cannot discus the strides made in Nigerian sports in the glorious years of Nigerian athletics without mentioning the name of Musa Dogonyaro. He was the first Nigerian athlete to pass through the American collegiate system before representing his country. He had gone to study in America around 1970 on his own. He started doing so well in America that Nigeria invited him to join the Olympic contingent to Munich in 1972! That was how he started an illustrious career as an international athlete representing Nigeria. He was one of the first Nigerians to acquire a university degree in physical and health education from abroad. He represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth games, the All Africa games, and the Olympics! After retirement from athletics he devoted the rest of his life to work in the National Sports Commission and the Sports ministry, rising through the ranks to become a Deputy Director. He left the service of government some two or so years ago. I had not seen or heard of him since then as he must have quietly retired to the cocoon of some other personal interest in Plateau State where he hailed from. When Bruce told me that Musa Dogonyaro died a few months ago (in August) and was buried quietly in September, I could not believe it. I called up Mumuni Alao. He had no information or knowledge about Musa’s passage. I asked one of my colleagues in the office, a veteran sports journalist and an ardent follower of the sports industry in the country. He was blank! I then called up a friend in the National Sports Commission. He, it was that confirmed to me that indeed the great Musa Dogonyaro was dead! I wondered aloud why there was no noise about his death. He did not have an answer. Instead he lamented the ‘loud’ and conspicuous absence of National Sports Commission’s involvement in his burial. Not even an official obituary was published by it to announce the passage of one Nigeria’s great athletics heroes, and perhaps the greatest athlete to come from the North of Nigeria! I am truly lost for words! This is another reflection of the tragedy that has befallen Nigerian sports.

It is totally unacceptable that sports heroes are unacknowledged even at death as they usually are when they retire from sports and are alive! Belated as it may be, I hope this serves as a little tribute to a giant Nigerian Olympian. Rest well Musa in the bosom of your Creator!