Team Nigeria cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, has revealed that the German team offered her a bicycle to compete at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” Ukpeseraye posted on her X handle on Thursday.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you.”
Nigerians were dismayed to hear such news and took to social media, precisely X to vent their anger.
“The German team had to lend Nigeria’s Cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, one of their bicycle to train as she had none from Nigeria,” Photo-journalist, Sulaiman Adebayo known as Pooja Media wrote.
“So many federations need to be probed after this Olympics. What’s this nonsense?”
Die-hard Arsenal fan, Kelechi Anyikude a.k.a Kelechi AFC said: “Imagine this embarrassment. So, the German cycling team had to borrow Nigeria’s cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, one of their bicycles to train and race for the Keirin & Sprint event as she had no bicycle to race with on the tracks.
“How you do want your athletes to perform when you don’t empower them? When will this nonsense stop? Imagine another country empowering our athlete? Chai!
“Thank you Team Germany for coming to Ese’s rescue. We must do more to empower her game,” the United Kingdom-based Nigerian sports lover concluded.
Social media influencer, Rinu Oduola said: “They didn’t provide you with a bicycle? Who’s the person in charge of this? Please, name him.
“These people shouldn’t be hiding under the guise of their jobs. Call them out! Nigerians will do the job for you.”
Meanwhile, no Nigerian had ever qualified for the cycling event at the Olympics until Ukpeseraye came along.
