By Ben Efe
Coach Harrison Momoh is one of the Nigerian coaches chiefly responsible for the discovery of grassroots athletes that made the country proud during its so called athletics golden era.
The long list of athletes Momoh mentored include late Sunday Bada, Olapde Adenikan, Taiwo Aladefa, Kehinde Aladefa, Ayo Aladefa (late), Yemi Aladefa, Ojo Michael, Omolade Akinremi, Omotayo Akinremi, Christy Akinremi, Ibukun Akinremi, Bisi Afolabi, Kayode Afolabi, Tunji Moronfoye, Saidat Onanuga, Angela Atede, Olu Sule and many more accomplished Nigerian track and field greats who did well for themselves on and off track and field.
“It was a real life pleasure working with those athletes and I’m happy seeing them doing well in their respective endeavors,” said coach Momoh from his base in Ilorin, Kwara State.
He wished that he could turn back the hands of the clock and returned to the field, but Momoh has fallen into the well of lonesomeness and abandonment as old age has slowed him down to the point of needing assistance to move around.
“I really wish that I can be in the field discovering athletes, but I am 80 years and retired, I can barely walk.
“However, I believe the coaches on field presently are doing their best despite the limiting conditions.
“Nigeria has never been short of athletics talents, it depends on how the athletes are discovered, groomed and managed,” he added.
But Momoh’s health and welfare seems to be the only thing that needs managing at the moment. He is retired but no pension to take care of his immediate needs. He is living on the sympathy of some of the athletes he coached.
“Coach Momoh is a national treasure, and must be treated as such,” said Olympian and 1995 African Games 100 hurdles champion Taiwo Aladefa.
” Nigeria needs to do better for retired coaches, there is no pension for national coaches. For almost 30 years, coach Momoh was working preparing the national team for several Olympics and African Games.
“We should support him in his old age and not allow him to die in penury. I am not sure he is on any pension from Kwara State where he worked in the sports council. I can’t remember any recognition given to him by Kwara State for all his contributions to sports development in the State.
“The Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Sports Ministry need to look into his plight, they cannot just forget all his contributions to Nigeria athletics. “They all know who coach Momoh is and cannot just let him die in vain.”
Momoh due to his commitment to athletics married late, his first daughter is still in the secondary school and his wife’s earnings from her little trade is barley enough to see to the need of the family.
“The most painful thing is that he is left at home alone while the wife is away to her business.
“On several occasions thieves have broken into the house to cart away his things. There has to be someone to care for him, move him around, take him to the stadium so that he can feel the atmosphere he once worked in.” Aladefa added.
