Nigerians too critical of Super Eagles – Alex Unusual

2018 Big Brother Naija housemate, Alexandra Asogwa, popularly known as Alex Unusual, is a media personality, writer, and actress who made her acting debut in AY Makun’s comedy-drama, Merry Men 2. She talks about her sports interests, fan criticism of the Super Eagles team, and more, in this interview with PETER AKINBO

What sporting activities did you participate in when you were in school?

Yeah, I did a lot in secondary school. I did the high jump, long jump, relay races, and discus. I was really good at long jump, discus, and relay races. I wasn.t running the first lap at relay races though, because I was terrible at take-off, so I always took the last lap.

Did you win some medals? If yes, do you still have them?

Sure, I won a lot of them, and all the times I ran, we finished first because I was the fastest in the relay race team. Since I was going last, I know the team needs my help when things aren’t going so well, I did my best to carry the team at times. The medals should still be in my parents’ house.

Why didn’t you pursue a career in athletics since you were so good?

Well, I don’t think this country (Nigeria) supports these sports so much. Discus for example, I don’t think it gets the attention it deserves. I don’t know any discus athletes in Lagos. I just don’t think they get the same level of attention like basketball or football. After I left secondary school and got into the university, I discovered that there were no provisions for things like this like that. I can’t remember having anything like that in the university. So, in a way, you kind of move away from sports and move towards other things because there is really nothing that promotes it and encourages you to continue in it.

This was how you felt back then; do you think this is still the case?

Yes, I think so. In secondary and primary school, there is a lot of encouragement in sports but when you leave and go to universities, they don’t really have a lot of sporting facilities and activities. I can’t say about private universities though, but I don’t think I see or hear a lot of that except football and basketball, which is even still a struggle, I don’t think I hear a lot about that in Nigeria. I still don’t think the situation has improved till now.

What sports do you enjoy the most?

For now, I think I have a lot of love for lawn tennis. I have not really tried it that much so I can’t really find the time, but I like lawn tennis. I have a friend that plays table tennis and he says I can play lawn tennis at the same place.

Who is your favourite sports personality?

That will be Serena Williams. I like how she is not just about sports.  She brings a fashionable side to what she does. I have also seen her do other things like feature in Beyonce’s music video. And you know how people make it seem like women in sports are masculine, she doesn’t act like that.

What do you think of the Super Eagles?

I don’t really know much about them. I don’t like the way fans watch football, whenever they don’t play that good, there’s so much curses and insults and maybe that’s how everyone watches football, but the fact that you like them today and tomorrow, it’s looking like they’ve never done anything good their entire life. That’s why I don’t really like watching football, because of how the fans react to their play.

Would you be supportive of any of your kids going into boxing?

I don’t think the children that will come from me will like boxing. If that’s what they want to do, fine, but I can’t be treating your face and all those injuries. I feel like it’s just too much so I won’t support it. I’ll leave the child o, but I’m sure he’ll know that his mummy is not happy about it, but I will let him do what he wants to do.

Would you still consider going into sports since you are still young?

I will if I get good at lawn tennis when I start playing, but as I said, I don’t think this country supports sports as they should, so it’s going to be too much of a struggle.

Were your parents supportive of you involvement in sports?

Yes, they were. Very supportive, my parents have always been supportive of everything I did, including going into the Big Brother house, except maybe my Dad, because I had to leave school for that.