nrf24l01 + old aritronics + L298N need a little help.

left motor still does nothing.

You have an awful lot of code for (still) having a fundamental problem.

Get rid of most of the code. Just make one motor spin in one direction for 5 seconds. Then spin the other motor the same way, for the same length of time. Then, make each motor spin the other way, for the same length of time. Lock the joysticks and radios away until you can positively control the motors.