Nollywood actress and BBNaija Season Three semi-finalist Munirat Antoinette Lecky, popularly known as Anto Lecky, was once the Head of Operations for the Continental Basketball League. She talks about her sports life and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO.
Were you involved in sports while growing up?
When I was in school, I ran, I did athletics. I ran outdoor, indoor track and cross country. I was actually the Freshman Cross Country female champion for New Jersey. I grew up in Jersey, United States.
Why didn’t you pursue athletics fully?
You know in the United States, to pursue professional sports, you have to go through the collegiate route, play for a university and from there, you’ll be picked up. So, I actually wanted to try out for our university team, but I was advised by people on the team that you should only participate in collegiate sports if it is for a scholarship, that it takes so much time and energy to balance sports and your schooling. So, unless you need to do the sports to pay for school, don’t add that extra stress to your life, and that’s why I didn’t try out collegiate sports.
Were your parents in support of you pursuing athletics?
I think so. My mother came to a few of my races, and I think also because I grew up in the US, where parents understand that some people need to take sports seriously for college and that becomes what they’ll do. Generally, they were aware that sports helps to build character, leadership and allows you to become a more sociable person. So, I think if I was really good and was able to explain to them that this thing can make me big money, I don’t think they would have had any issues.
Do you think you could have been an Olympian if you had pursued it?
Maybe, I don’t know. I enjoyed sports but I never saw myself becoming a professional athlete, I saw myself being a sports administrator but not really an athlete myself. Even when I was in school, I ran for two years, and then I started working in the sports department in administration.
You won the Nigerian Meritorious Award for Excellence in Sports in 2016. How did you feel?
It was pretty amazing because that was the year I moved back to Nigeria and became the Head of Operations for the Continental Basketball League, so I was pretty surprised that people knew I was doing something. I think because I made a big leap to do something groundbreaking as it was the first private basketball league in Nigeria. So, I guess the award committee saw me as a role model for the youths doing something different, chasing my dreams, so I think that was why I got awarded.
What’s your favourite sport?
I am a basketball girl through and through. I don’t watch it like I used to but I still keep up as much as I can.
What’s your favourite basketball team right now?
My favourite basketball team is D’Tigress. I love the Nigerian women’s basketball team, those are my girls. I worked with them the year they won the AfroBasket. I am actually a sports administrator, so I was working for an athletic apparel company and we were the ones that provided them with their kits in 2017 when they went to Mali.
How do you feel about D’Tigress missing the World Cup after qualifying, following crisis in the basketball sector?
It’s a disaster and it’s so unfortunate because it’s one thing to work hard at your craft and it’s another to work hard at your craft for your country. That means you’re doing it for other people, you’re not even doing it for yourself and for that same country to be the reason you can’t compete, it’s very painful, it’s extremely painful and I feel so bad for them. This is a part of the reason why I have encouraged people to vote for good governance. If we have good people in these offices, this cannot be happening.
Who is your favourite sportsperson?
My favourite sportsperson is Lebron James. Everything about Lebron James, I love. We are both born in December and the year I entered middle school was the year he entered the NBA, I feel like we have a connection. I’ve seen Lebron play and because of him, I applied to the Miami Heat so many times, I was living in Florida and I would actually drive to the arena to try and meet people there who could help me get a job because of Lebron. I love Lebron, anything he says or does; he can do no wrong in my heart. I would really love to spend time with him and his family.
Who is your favourite in the D’Tigress team?
I don’t think I have a favourite because I know them personally. I think they’re a great group of young ladies.
If you had to pick someone on the D’Tigress team to play a 2-on-2, who would you pick?
I’d probably pick Ezinne Kalu. I’d pick her because she’s a really good point guard.
Would you be supportive of your kids playing in sports?
One hundred per cent, it’s a must. When I have kids, by the grace of God, I will sign them up for sports, that one is a fact. They must play something, they must play then they will decide whether they like it or not. I’m not going to force them but they will start something then they can let me know if it’s something they enjoy then we can discuss whether or not we’ll do it professionally or not.
If you had a chance to do it again, would you be an athlete or you’d still be an actress?
I feel I would have tried to do both. Maybe try to first do athletics, see how far I’ll go with it and of course, it would help me keep fit but I probably would have still wanted to go into acting.
Do you still run?
I don’t, it’s really bad. I want to get back into it, I’ve been trying but I don’t. The roads in Lagos are not stable enough to run well.
