Tag Archives: Nigeria

Athlete Interview: TYRON AKINS – Nigeria’s 110m Hurdles Champion, formerly of Team USA!!!

2 Jul

28 year-old Tyron Akins, winner of the 100m Hurdles at the 2014 Nigerian Trials (in a time of 13.66 seconds) speaks exclusively to MAKING OF CHAMPIONS on his decision to switch from Team USA to Team Nigeria, and on his family links to Nigeria! 

Tyron, how are you feeling about your win here at the Nigerian Trials?

I’m feel pretty good, we had a little delay just before with the women’s hurdles, where something went wrong with the timing system, but I was able to re-focus on the task at hand which was trying to win the race.

Now you were also at the Warri Relays last week – how did you do over there?

Well I felt really good about the Warri Relays but unfortunately I hit hurdles 5 and 6 and that pretty much put me out of the race. Being a hurdler those types of things happen, so I was put out of the race by that – I came fourth though.

So is this your first time competing in Nigeria, and for Nigeria?

Yes it is.

Could you tell us about how you came to switch from the US to represent Nigeria?

Well, it was an opportunity that arose for me, so I was like yeah, I would like to do that. I have always followed Nigeria Track & Field as well, being that I am good friends with Blessing (Okagbare), so I’ve always kept up with what was happening over here. So when the opportunity arose for me to do it, I was able to take advantage of it. So I’m here now!

Do you have any family or heritage from Nigeria?

I do, I do. Uhm…somewhere down the line but it’s there!

A lot of Nigerians will be wondering – how does it work? Don’t you have to have some kind of close parentage or family links in Nigeria to make the switch?

You’ve got to have some sort of proof that you have that family. At least that’s my understanding, and I was lucky enough to go down the family tree to find that.

So how far down the family tree does it go?

I don’t know exactly, but I think it was pretty deep!

So what is your Personal Best in the 100m Hurdles and when did you do it?

My PB is 13.25 seconds, and I did that in 2008. So it’s been a while, but from 2009 to 2012, I was consistently in the 13.30’s, and I had an off year in 2013, so I’m trying to get back to form now, and everything is falling into place it should be.

Now that you’re getting started with your Nigeria career, what are your hopes for the future, starting with the Commonwealth Games?

The goal is to medal, to consistently get on the podium. I think, whenever you represent any country, you want to consistently be on the podium, or in contention for the podium. So everything I am doing is to try to medal at every Championships – Commonwealth, African Championships, All-Africa Games next year, then the World Championships, the Olympics and all of that. So those are my goals for now.

Have you competed before (for Team USA) at a World Championships or an Olympics?

No I have not.

So that’s something to look forward to?

Absolutely, and I can’t wait!

How fast are you on the flat (100 metres)? You know that our guys need some help in that department…

Well, it’s a mix, because on record they’ve got me at 10.78s into a 2.0 m/s headwind, but I think my best was 10.49s

So you think you might try out the flat at some point?

No, can’t do it! Can’t do it!

Ok, congratulations again, and thank you for your time!

Thank you

Tyron 'Toritseju' Akins, 2014 Nigerian 110m Hurdles Champion, recently switched allegiances from Team USA

Tyron ‘Toritseju’ Akins, 2014 Nigerian 110m Hurdles Champion,
recently switched allegiances from Team USA

 

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Athlete Interview: MARK JELKS – Nigeria’s 100m Champion, formerly of Team USA!!!

30 Jun

30 year-old Mark Jelks, Nigeria’s latest fastest man, talks to the Nigerian press immediately after his win in the 100 metres, in a time of 10.23 seconds (-2.3 m/s wind) at the Nigerian Trials at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on June 20th, 2014…

How do you feel after winning your first Nigerian 100 metre Title?

I’m tired, hungry, sleepy…did I mention hungry? Men, it is breath-taking to be here. Seriously, I’m in awe right now. Words can’t accurately express what I feel right now. 

Right, we know that you didn’t just think that you were going to waltz in here and win this. Was there anything special you had to do to win here today?

You know, I just had to keep faith in what my training has been, and I knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy win. These guys are hungry to win out here on the track, so I just kept faith in what my coach and I had been working on.

So next stop for you is the Commonwealth Games

Yes, yes! I am ready, I am excited.

We are experiencing a time in Nigerian Athletics where our men are not doing very well. Last year at the World Championships our men could not progress beyond the heats. Now looking forward to the Commonwealth Games you are the Nigerian Champion, you’re the new kid on the block, you’ve beaten former Champions Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Obinna Metu to win the title. Are we going to see you perform better with regards to your time?

I am here to win medals. I am here to represent to the best of my abilities. I will go past rounds, I will make the finals, and I will get medals.

Mark, can you tell us what made you decide to switch allegiance from Team USA to represent Nigeria? 

The opportunity to represent a great country. Seriously, there are more opportunities here to flourish, to be great and to have the opportunity to get to the bigger stage. So that was the deciding factor for me

So what was the process of switching like? Do you have any parents, grandparents or someone in your ancestry who is from Nigeria? How does it work? 

Yeah, my ‘Papa’! I call him Papa, he’s my grand-dad. My uncle still stays here, so I decided to explore that side of my family.

And for Nigerian fans, can you tell us where your Papa is from?

Warri South.

What was your preparation like ahead of winning the Nigerian 100m title here?

The preparation is gruelling, it hurts. That is why I respect all those guys in the final, because they hurt just as much as I hurt. Every day they go out and do the same types of things that I am doing, to make the final, to represent, to get on the team, so it’s humbling and at the same time, exciting.

Mark 'Amuju' Jelks, 2014 Nigerian 100m Champion, recently switched allegiances from Team USA

Mark ‘Amuju’ Jelks, 2014 Nigerian 100m Champion, recently switched allegiances from Team USA

 

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EXCLUSIVE Interview (Part II) with MAURICE GREENE, Team Nigeria’s Relay Coach, on the new craze for recruiting American Athletes!

24 Jun

Yesterday we published Part I of our EXCLUSIVE interview with MAURICE GREENE, Former World Record Holder, Olympic GOLD Medallist and 3-time World Champion in the 100 metres. Here’s the conclusion  – we met with him on his very first visit to Nigeria for the National Athletics Championships, to get his view on the new craze of recruiting American athletes to compete for Nigeria, and his future as Team Nigeria’s Relay Coordinator!

 

On the men’s side, Nigeria has struggled a lot recently. As a matter of fact, we haven’t had a sub-10 second sprinter since Olusoji Fasuba in 2006, when he set the African Record of 9.85s. What do you think we can do at the Commonwealth Games, when our men are only running 10.2 to 10.3 seconds?

Well, we’ve got to work. Today (at the Nigerian Trials) there’s a big headwind, so you can’t just look at the times of the races. You’ve got to look at how they produce, the elements and everything else that goes into a performance. When you get into a championship race it does not matter what time you run, what matters is what place you get. And if you look at the performance in the 100 metre finals at these Trials just now, it was a bit deceptive, because Ogho (Egwero) really did not start well at all. He stumbled out of the blocks and was dead last, but he was able to move through the race and finish strong, and still managed to get third. So that should tell you something, he would have run better, and pushed the others to run better, and then anything can happen. So everything happens in the race – it doesn’t matter what the time is, it’s the placing that matters most of all, and what happens during the race.

Speaking of that race, Mark Jelks just won the Nigerian 100m title, and both he and Monzavous Edwards in 2nd place just recently switched allegiances to Nigeria from Team USA. Can you tell us more about this trend of athletes, American athletes especially, suddenly finding their roots in Nigeria, and coming to compete for Nigeria?

Well, I think that it’s a good thing. They are great athletes and they just decided to come and run where their roots are and not there where they grew up. So I think it’s a good thing, it’s going to help out the country, because really this country has a lot of great athletes. If you see the trend, all it takes is for one athlete in the country to do something, then the next person then starts to believe that they can do it too, so that’s all it takes. Once one person does it, then another person does it, then another – it’s just a domino effect.

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Do you think this trend of recruit foreign athletes is sustainable? Do you not think that we should be developing more athletes in Nigeria?

No, but we are also developing the athletes in Nigeria, at the same time.

Okay, fair enough. So we understand that you signed a four month contract until the Commonwealth Games. Do you hope to continue after the Games as the Relay Coach for Team Nigeria?

I will continue after that, I will be here longer than that. We have already started discussing what will happen next year and the years after, so my plans are to continue on. My job here is to make the world realise how great Team Nigeria is. They have a lot of great athletes, and my job is to bring out that talent and make the world see it.

Do you think that Nigeria can be as good as the Jamaicans and Americans in a few years?

I believe that we can do that in a year. Especially in the Relays. Especially the women.

You sound confident that you can lead Team Nigeria to surpass even Team USA?

That’s my vision.

I suppose if that were to happen, Team USA might give you a call to give you a job over there instead?

Who cares? I’m not worried about them right now. My job is here, to help Nigeria do the best job possible, and that’s what I am going to do.

Is this your first time in Nigeria, for the National Trials? 

Yes, this is my first time.

What’s your impression of Nigeria so far, how have you found it? 

Well, you know, every place is different, but my experience has been very nice. The people have treated me very well – everything is good.

Fantastic! So we hope to see you in Nigeria more, coaching the kids over here too?

I will. I will be, I promise.

Final question for you – You’re the fastest man ever, still, in the 60 metres, with a World Record of 6.39 seconds which has stood since 1998! What can you do to teach our guys here how to start fast?

Look at Obinna (Metu), look at Ogho (Egwero), I’m teaching him. It will be a journey but it’s a start. You’ve got to start somewhere.

Maurice, thank you for taking the time to speak exclusively to MAKING OF CHAMPIONS

Thank you!

Maurice Greene, Nigeria's Relay Team Coordinator (R), with Making of Champions Founder & CEO, Bambo Akani (L)

Maurice Greene, Nigeria’s Relay Team Coordinator (R), with Making of Champions                       Founder & CEO, Bambo Akani (L) at the 2014 Nigerian Trials in Calabar

 

 

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Can the SUPER EAGLES SOAR against ARGENTINA at the World Cup?

24 Jun

Two weeks ago, following the completion of Nigeria’s World Cup friendlies, we brought you the aptly titled “Can the Super Eagles fly against Argentina at the World Cup?” where we assessed the Super Eagles’ World Cup chances, and we told Nigerians everywhere to KEEP CALM, following that string of unimpressive friendly performances. And calmness was certainly needed, after a goalless draw against Iran in the first game that had many a Super Eagles fan resigning the team to doom against the supposed might of Bosnia! In truth, fortune certainly favoured Nigeria in that match which could have easily ended 1-0 in Bosnia’s favour, if those two calls in the first half had gone differently – Dzeko’s wrongly ruled offside goal, and Emenike’s challenge on the Bosnian defender that led to Odemwingie’s goal, which we could not have had serious complaints if it had been called as a foul!

All that said, a win against Bosnia was always going to knock them out and put the Super Eagles in a prime position to qualify for the knockout rounds. Indeed, statisticians on various websites have given Nigeria some 85% probability of qualifying for the 2nd round ahead of Iran. Incidentally, Iran will also be seeking their first World Cup win in 16 years against the demoralised Bosnians, and only their second World Cup win EVER to sneak into the 2nd round for their first time ever, ahead of the Super Eagles. On paper, Iran should not beat the Bosnians, but stranger things have happened, and the manner in which they nearly held the mighty Argies to a goalless draw will give them all the belief they need to go and get the result they need against Bosnia!

As such, despite Nigeria’s seemingly high probability of making the Second Round for the first time since France ’98, our progression may well hinge on the Super Eagles making a little history of their own, and doing something that no other Nigerian team has succeeded in doing at the World Cup – Avoiding defeat against Argentina! Indeed, Nigeria has lost 3 out of 3 against our World Cup nemesis Argentina, and has not scored in 262 minutes of World Cup against the South Americans, since Samson Siasia’s 8th minute goal against them at USA ’94! That remains Nigeria’s only World Cup goal against them!

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In those matches Nigerians have always taken solace in the fact that Argentina’s margin of victory was only by one goal, but if that were to happen again, we could well see the drawing of lots to determine who goes through with them to the next round – if Nigeria loses and Iran wins by one-goal margins, with Iran scoring exactly one goal more than Nigeria (e.g. 0-1, 1-0 or 1-2, 2-1, etc) then lots will be drawn to determine which team will finish second in the group and face the unenviable task of meeting a French side that has already scored 8 goals in just 2 matches in Brazil! And Nigeria is no stranger to losing one-nil to the Argies…

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On the flip side, history beckons for Stephen Keshi if he can become the first Super Eagles manager to take even a point from Argentina at the World Cup. One would also presume that Nigeria is long overdue a result against La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue). They have not particularly lit up Brazil 2014 yet, with laboured victories against Bosnia and Iran, and it seems like they are lost for ideas outside the brilliance of Lionel Messi – if the Super Eagles can shackle him and prevent him from scoring (which thanks to the brilliance of Vincent “Enyeamagnet” they managed to do in 2010), then we have every chance of taking something from the game! Super Eagles captain Jospeh Yobo will become Nigeria’s first centenary player with his 100th cap if he suits up against Argentina, and he will be hoping that it is third time lucky, as he is the only surviving player from the teams that lost narrowly against them in both 2002 and 2010!

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Having secured qualification already, Argentina will not be going all out for the win against Nigeria. Could we perhaps see a shock result – Nigeria defeating Argentina at the World Cup? As with USA finally beating Ghana at the third attempt, it has to happen one day, and with Super Eagles in the ascendancy, and gaining in confidence after a good performance against Bosnia, Nigeria has never had a better chance to “smash and grab” against Argentina! To date, our only victory of note against Argentina was the historic 3-2 victory in the GOLD medal game at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics. It’s time to invoke the spirit of  that ‘Dream Team’ because something tells us that more than one goal will be needed to take victory tomorrow against Argentina!

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This could very well turn out to be an AWESOME World Cup for Africa, as there is a very real possibility that more than ONE African team will make the 2nd Round of the World Cup for the first time ever, strengthening the perennial argument for more than 5 African slots at the mundial. Apart from Nigeria, A draw for Algeria against Russia should be enough to see them through, and barring a disaster of ‘Kaitastrophic’ proportions against Greece (any Nigerian who saw the last World Cup should understand what that means!), Cote d’Ivoire should go through to the 2nd round for the 1st time in their history!

 

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EXCLUSIVE Interview (Part I) with MAURICE GREENE, former 100m world record holder & Team Nigeria’s new Relay Coordinator!

23 Jun

MAURICE GREENE, Former World Record Holder, Olympic GOLD Medallist and 3-time World Champion in the 100 metres, speaks EXCLUSIVELY to MAKING OF CHAMPIONS about his rivalries with Nigerian athletes during his illustrious career, and his recent appointment as Team Nigeria’s Relay Coordinator!

You were the 100m World Record Holder with a time of 9.79s between 1999 and 2005. What were some of the greatest rivalries you had against Nigerian Athletes in that time?

At that time, (Francis) Obikwelu. Though I don’t know if he had switched countries yet, but he was probably my biggest rival. 

He was still representing Nigeria at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, when you won the 200 metre title and he was third. Can you tell us a little about that?

Well, it was a great rivalry. He kind of startled me in the semi-final because he ran that race so easily. He ran 19.84 seconds, and I was like ‘uh-oh’, I am really going to have to do something in the final, so I kind of changed up my game plan a little bit. I knew I had to change up and put more pressure on him in the race.

You won the final with a time of 19.90s, so if he had run that fast in the final, you would have lost it?

Well yeah that’s true, but each race is different. It all depends on who’s in the race and what happens during the race, that’s all.

If we recall correctly, Obikwelu pipped you to the Silver medal in the 100 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympics in a time of 9.86s – by then he was running for Portugal – while you took the Bronze in 9.87s?

Yeah – that was my fault though, because in the semi-final I slowed down too much at the end and he leaned and took second, so that pushed me to an outside lane for the final. I like being in the middle of the track, because when somebody moves I can move to go faster. So that messed me up – it put me in lane 7, so I only had Obadele Thompson from Barbados in Lane 8, and Asafa Powell in Lane 6, but everything happened in lanes 3, 4 and 5. So that messed me up, but you know I say it’s my fault, so it happens. You go through race strategies and race plans and everything else, so you’ve got to live with what happens. 

Another famous race for Nigeria at that Olympics was the 4×100 metre relay, and we distinctly remember Deji Aliu receiving the baton on the anchor leg for Nigeria at the same time you did for Team USA, and you eventually just missed out on the GOLD to Team GB by one hundredths of a second, with Nigeria taking the Bronze?

Yeah it was tough, because at those Olympics I lost 2 GOLD medals by three hundredths of a second – miserable day. I mean, you can’t even blink that fast. But you know what? It happens…

Let’s talk about your current appointment at the Relay Coordinator for Team Nigeria. What are your hopes and expectations for the role? What do you think you can bring to Nigerian Athletics? 

I don’t hope anything. Nigeria has a lot of great athletes here, and we just have to bring out that talent. They brought me in to mentor a lot of them and just help put everything together so that they can start producing the medals like they should. They haven’t been doing it in the past few years, and things need to change, so it’s my job to come in and try to change things, and try to make sure that the world sees the exact talent that Nigeria really has. So that’s what I plan on doing.

Do you have any of the athletes under your direct tutelage as their coach?

Yeah, I have a couple of them. I don’t work with them every day, but we have training camps, and I speak to a lot of them through email and on the phone, so it’s all of the above.

Let’s do a quick recap of the World Relays in the Bahamas – the girls had a great performance in the 4x400m relay, with the third fastest time ever by a Nigerian quartet in the event. What can you say about our performance at the World Relays?

Yeah, I think that was just a start of what we are beginning. It’s going to get better from there. That is just the start of it. At the World Relays, I had just been with the team for a couple of months, and I think the women did a very good job there. But I expect more out of them, and they know that I expect more from them. I get them to believe that they should expect more also, so good things – no, great things – are yet to come! 

Tune in tomorrow for the conclusion of this exclusive interview with Maurice Greene, during his first ever trip to Nigeria for the National Trials in Calabar, where he weighs in on the recent trend of American athletes switching allegiances to Nigeria! 

Maurice Greene, Team Nigeria's Relay Coordinator, at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, during the 2014 Nigerian Athletics Championships

Maurice Greene, Team Nigeria’s Relay Coordinator, at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar, during the 2014 Nigerian Athletics Championships

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Former Americans DOMINATE on Day 2 of Nigerian Athletics Championships – a SHOCKING new trend in Naija Athletics?

21 Jun

The 2nd Day of the Nigerian Trials for the Commonwealth Games took place on Friday in Calabar, with athletes who formerly represented USA dominating proceedings. The sudden emergence of former Americans at the Nigerian Championships is already causing a stir (and confusion) amongst fans and athletes alike.

The crown of Nigeria’s fastest man went to Former American Mark Jelks, representing Delta State. He was head and shoulders above the rest of the field, running an impressive 10.12s in the heats on Day 1, and following that up with victories in the semis and finals, both in times of 10.23s, into headwinds of -1.7 m/s and -2.3 m/s respectively. Second place went to another former US Athlete, Mozavous Arkezes Edwards, also representing Delta, who finished in 10.39s, with the defending champion Ogho-Oghone Egwero finishing third in 10.45s. Another former Champion on his comeback trail, Obinna Metu, finished a disappointing 5th place in 10.51s, and one must wonder now if he will ever reach the heights that made him Nigerian No. 1 and to go and train at Usain Bolt’s camp in Jamaica for a couple of month! Jelks was mobbed by Nigerian press after the race, and when asked about his family links to Nigeria, he told us that his ‘Papa’ (grandfather) was from  Warri South!

22-year old Seye Ogunlewe, the most promising young Nigerian sprinter for some time now, finished 4th in 10.46s, and unfortunately misses out on an individual spot in the 100 metres for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (he finished 2nd behind Egwero last year and has a PB of 10.23s set this year). This is an unfortunate consequence of having recruited the older Americans to Team Nigeria, and one can only hope that this young man will get his fair chance to represent Nigeria in the individual 100 metres soon. He should complete Nigeria’s quartet in the 4×100 metres which should now be strong enough to win a Commonwealth medal, after disappointing performances from our men’s relay teams in the past few years!

In the 100 metres hurdles, another newly converted Nigerian, Nichole Denby won the title in a time of 13.29s, while last year’s Champion Ugonna Ndu (13.57s) and Amaka Ogoebunam (13.71s), both US-based as well, finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. While Ugonna’s and Amaka’s links to Nigeria are clear from their names alone, Nichole’s link isn’t so obvious – when we caught up with her after her win, she told us that her great-grandfather on her mother’s side was Nigerian! In the 110 hurdles, yet another former US Athlete, Tyron ‘Toritseju’ Akins took the crown in a time of 13.66s, ahead  of UK-based Alex Al-Ameen who posted 13.75s, and Martins Ogieriakhi who ran 13.93s. We caught up with Tyron after his win and he confirmed that you need to have Nigerian heritage  to make the switch and that he was lucky enough to have found a link (deep) in his family tree!

In the past, athletes with clear immediate family links to Nigeria, such as Regina George and Gloria Asumnu, switched allegiance from the USA to Nigeria at different stages of their careers. Regina George especially is an exceptional athlete who represented USA as a junior and made the switch to Team Nigeria even though she was and still is good enough to compete for USA. But this new era of Nigerian Athletics we are currently witnessing is unlike anything we have ever seen before. We’re seeing athletes with questionable, distant links to Nigeria, supposedly in their heritage, switch from the USA to pitch tent for Nigeria in the twilight of their careers, most of whom have never represented USA at the highest level, at major championships.

Should we not be expending a lot more energy and resources ensuring that the best talents in Nigeria, such as Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya and Qatar’s Femi Ogunode, do not switch in the first place? Can these Americans turned Nigerians take us to the promised land, which is to be as good as, or even better than the Americans and Jamaicans in the coming years? Tell us what YOU think. In the meantime, Making of Champions will be bringing you EXCLUSIVE interviews will ALL of the latest recruits to Team Nigeria – watch this space!

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As Britain’s CHIJINDU UJAH breaks 10 seconds, we ask – WHY AREN’T NIGERIANS DOING THE SAME?

9 Jun

20-year old Chijindu Ujah in his first season running as a senior, sprinted to prominence last night in Holland, clocking 9.96s in the 100 metres, making him only the FIFTH British Athlete to go under 10 seconds, and moving him straight up to third in the British all-time list, behind only Linford Christie (9.87s) and James Dasaolu (9.91s). He finished second in the race to Trinidad & Tobago’s Richard Thompson, the Silver medallist  from the Beijing 2008 Olympics, who won the race in 9.95s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL-tQTRTXOs

This is another massive personal best from the virtually unknown British youngster, whom we reported had brought his PB down from 10.26s to 10.14s at the Manchester Great CityGames only last month. Now he has truly announced his arrival on the big stage, and he has British commentators salivating on the resurgence of British sprinting. Ujah is yet another athlete born to parents of Nigerian descent but who was born and bred in Britain, after James Dasaolu shot to 2nd in the British all-time list last year, with an incredible 9.91s run at the British Championships! Ujah is coached by Jonas Tawia-Dodoo, and his training partners include Long Jump Olympic Champion Greg Rutherford, and a couple of other youngsters of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent, Deji Tobias and Sean Safo-Antwi!

Here’s the obvious question for Nigerians – WHY is there a trend for Nigerian-born or Nigerian-origin athletes to excel at Sprinting everywhere but Nigeria? Indeed, we just reported this weekend that Nigerians are no longer the fastest people in Africa, even though we hold 7 of the top 9 positions in Africa’s all-time list. Interestingly, the Africa is not the only continent where Nigerians BORN and RAISED in NIGERIA are the Record Holders:

European 100 metre all-time list (Top 7):

1. Francis Obikwelu, 9.86s (POR) – he ran for Nigeria until Sydney 2000 and switched to Portugal in 2001, setting this European Record by winning the Olympic Silver medal at Athens 2004!

2. Linford Christie, 9.87s (GBR)

3. Churandy Martina, 9.91s (NED)

3. James Dasaolu, 9.91s (GBR) – Nigerian descent

5. Christophe Lemaitre, 9.92s (FRA) – the only white athlete who’s ever run under 10 seconds!

6. Jimmy Vicaut, 9.95s (FRA)

7. Chijindu Ujah, 9.96s (GBR) – Nigerian descent

Asian 100 metre all-time list (Top 3):

1. Samuel Francis, 9.99s (QAT) – born and raised in Nigeria – switched to Qatar in 2007, and became the 100m Asian Record Holder that same year!

2. Koji Ito, 10.00s (JPN)

2. Peimeng Zhang, 10.00s (CHN)

 

“There are currently over 72 million young people in the country. Thus, youth, more than oil, could be Nigeria’s asset in the following decades” – askGEJ.com

 

Indeed, Nigeria has over 100 million people younger than 25, and this represents an ample talent pool to dominate a sport that is very empirical, a sport where your success does not directly depend on the performance of others. Nigeria has always had a glorious opportunity to dominate Athletics in a way that only the USA ever has, but apparently everyone else in the Athletics world seems to know this, apart from Nigerians! Leading Sports Geneticist, Dr Yannis Pitsiladis has spoken profusely about the possibilities of Nigeria’s Athletics, as has Bahamian Athletics Executive, Harrison Petty, in the run-up to the 1st ever World Relay Championships in May!

It is also widely known that Nigeria was the nation that America feared the most in the nineties – Carl Lewis was very vocal that the USA should stop funding other countries’ Olympic teams (read: Nigeria) through handing them US Collegiate Scholarships en-masse. In fact, it had been predicted that Nigeria would be the next Track & Field superpower to emerge, but that turned out to be the little Island of Jamaica, population: 3 million (all descended from West Africa, by the way). Jamaica’s rise over the last 15 years has been down to a deliberate private sector effort in Jamaica, by Jamaicans, to produce the world’s best sprinters.

So how come not a single person or company in a country of 170 million people realises that there is the opportunity of a lifetime to train Athletes IN Nigeria, and get them firing on all cylinders against the best in the world? Athletics is the one sport, more than any other in the world, where the greatest battle is the one against oneself – if Nigerians as a people can come together and win the battle against the cultural and economic challenges that hinder real progress in producing World-Class athletes in Nigeria, then global domination in Track & Field beckons!

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Can the Super Eagles fly against Argentina at the World Cup?!?

8 Jun

Now that the series of pre-World Cup friendlies for the Super Eagles are over, it’s time to answer the question on every Nigerians lips: How well can they do at the the Big Dance? The Super Eagles are taking less than flattering form into the World Cup starting on Thursday – after an encouraging 2-2 draw with Scotland and a lacklustre goalless draw with Greece, The Eagles wrapped up their pre-World Cup friendlies with an uninspiring 2-1 loss to USA, in a performance that is already sending some Super Eagles fans into panic, and forcing others to adjust their expectations of the team – can we even make it out of the group? Should the less than stellar pre-World Cup form be a source of worry?

Well, yes and no, but more no than yes…yes, it is true that there is a gulf in class between Nigeria’s starting eleven and some of the bench players – strength in depth is needed to go beyond the World Cup Quarter-Finals, if the team can even make it that far. It is also true that the squad continues to be hampered by injuries to 1st team players – both Ahmed Musa and Kenneth Omeruo sat out the USA game due to injury concerns, while 1st-choice left back Uwa Echiejile has been ruled out altogether after pulling up with a muscle injury against Greece.

The only consolation Nigeria fans will be able to take from the loss of Echiejile is the return of CHAN MVP, Ejike Uzoenyi, to the team. Despite not being a like-for-like swap (a left-sided attacking midfielder replacing a left back), if Uzoenyi could re-enact any of the form that saw him score 3 incredible goals at this year’s CHAN, then he could prove to be a super-sub that might be able to produce something out of nothing for Nigeria! It remains to be seen whether he will even get a chance, as it would seem he is currently below the likes of Moses, Musa and even Babatunde and Uchebo in the pecking order on the wings!

So why should we not be TOO worried about Nigeria’s less than ideal build up to Brazil? Well, first of all, it is important to note that goal of friendlies is not necessarily to win them – Coach Stephen Keshi would have been more concerned about making sure his players stay injury-free. Only the match against Greece gave us any insight into what Keshi’s starting eleven at the World Cup is going to be. The Scotland match was a last chance for the fringe players to impress, while the USA match will have helped Keshi answer any lingering questions he may have had – can Yobo still lead this team from the start of matches, or can Ameobi lead the line alone upfront? The answer to both those questions based on the USA game would likely be NO, so barring injury, expect Omeruo to return to the starting line-up against Iran, while Emenike’s lively cameo against USA showed that he is still Nigeria’s No. 1 forward!

What’s most important for Nigerians and the team right now is to KEEP CALM. Just like at the African Cup of Nations last year, the Eagles seem to play best when the least is expected of them, when their backs are against the wall. Let’s also not forget that we have had far worse World Cup preparations in the past – in 1998, after losing consecutive friendlies to Germany, Yugoslavia and Holland to a total aggregate score of 9-1, we went on to beat Spain and Bulgaria in our first two World Cup matches and top our group. It was only when the team became overconfident and were already looking forward to a possible quarter-final clash against Brazil, that they were unceremoniously thrashed by Denmark in the 2nd Round!

This time around, they will know that the first game against Iran is a must-win game, to have any chance of progression to the second round, and they will get that job done. Bosnia in contrast has had a very strong build-up, including friendly victories against Cote d’Ivoire and Mexico, so there is no chance that Keshi and his team will underestimate them – avoiding defeat in that game will be critical for our chances for 2nd round progression. Going into the 3rd game against Argentina without needing a result would be ideal, but a lot will depend on if Argentina still needs a result by then to progress – ideally they will not and rest some key players!

Sergio Aguero dazzling 4 Nigerian players at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina won that game 1-0

Sergio Aguero dazzling 4 Nigerian players at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Argentina won that game 1-0

Nigeria has played Argentina in 3 of the 4 World Cups that the Super Eagles have appeared in, losing narrowly each time (2-1, to Claudio Cannigia goals at USA ’94, 1-0 to a Gabriel Batistuta header at Japan/Korea ’02, and 1-0 to a Gabriel Heinze header at South Africa 2010). Nigeria is well overdue a shock win against our old foes at the World Cup! So, can Nigeria beat the likes of Argentina and indeed the hosts Brazil, or is that just a pipe dream? Where will our support come from in Brazil? Here’s what Brazilian and Argentinian fans had to say about Nigeria’s chances, in Salvador just before World Cup Draw was made there in December – this video also features former Nigeria International Richard Owubokiri, who lives in Salvador – Enjoy!

If this is any indication of the reception that the Super Eagles should expect in Brazil, then we can count on some “home” support for the team even if there aren’t many Nigerians who can make the trip to Brazil to watch the matches lives – it’s just a pity that regardless of our progression, Nigeria will NOT play in the North-East of Brazil, particularly Salvador, where the links to Nigerian cuisine and culture and indeed the Yoruba language are incredibly apparent!

Lionel Messi darts past Osaze Odemwingie and Dickson Etuhu at the 2010 Word Cup - who will come out on top on June 25th in Porto Alegre?

Lionel Messi darts past Osaze Odemwingie and Dickson Etuhu at the 2010 Word Cup –
who will come out on top on June 25th in Porto Alegre?

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Nigeria misses Women’s 4x100m World Relay Bronze medal by a hundredth of a second!

25 May

It was a case of close but yet so far for Team Nigeria’s girls, as they missed out on what could have been Nigeria’s very first medal at the Inaugural World Relay Championships on Saturday. The quartet of Gloria Asumnu, Blessing Okagbare, Dominique Duncan and Francesca Okwara finished in a season’s best time of 42.67s, behind Team USA (41.88s), Jamaica (42.28s) and Trinidad & Tobago (42.66s):

This was an extremely commendable run for the quartet, especially considering the Duncan and Okwara were competing for Nigeria for the very first time. They had also run a season’s best in the Heats, with a 42.77s run that qualified them for the final behind Jamaica. In the Final, they were just 3 hundredths of a second off the time that the quartet of Christy Udoh, Gloria Asumnu, Oludamola Osayomi & Blessing Okagbare ran at the London Olympics, also for 4th place.

Despite the narrow loss of the Bronze medal, Nigerians can take solace from the fact that by virtue of finishing in the Top 8 in this event at the World Relays, our women’s 4x100m team have qualified automatically for the 2015 World Championships in Beijing! Let’s applaud them for a job well done – with Team USA not taking part in the Commonwealth Games in July/August, This Nigeria team should be a shoe-in for a Commonwealth Games medal, providing they can get the baton round safely! 

Here’s what the Team Nigeria ladies had to say after the race:

Blessing Okagbare

You missed out on the Bronze by a hundredth of a second – how can the team take this performance?

I think it was okay, it’s a totally new group and we’re just getting to know each other. We’re working on certain things, so I think we did okay

You ran a Season’s Best (SB) in the final, can you take some encouragement from that?

We ran an SB in the heats and the finals, so that’s something to go home with. I think that’s one of the fastest that the Nigeria team has actually done, so I think it’s great for us going forward.

I think you were only 0.4 seconds away from the Nigerian and African Record? Do you think this team can break that record this year or next year?

We will be able to break it – this is a new team, so once the girls start running faster we will do it. Like I said, we’re just getting to know each other and learning so much from each other.

So this team should be in good frame to get a medal at the Commonwealth Games?

Yeah, we’re looking forward to that!

Gloria Asumnu

How do you feel about missing the Bronze by a hundredth of a second? 

I mean that hurts, because it’s like you’re right there. This is the first time that the four of us have run together, believe it or not. We haven’t done many handoffs, so it’s a good sign for what’s to come, we just need to come together as a team and do what we need to do for the Commonwealth Games, and for the following year

You ran SBs in the heats and finals and not very far away from the Nigerian and African Record?

Yes, that’s something we’re chasing, but at the same time we just want to stay healthy and be able to get better individually, so when we come together as four (the improvement) is automatic

What are your hopes for the Commonwealth Games, individually and relay?

Individually, we need to bring home medals. Everyone, no matter what event it is – make the finals and bring home medals! For the relays, we’re keen to focus on that too because, you know, Nigeria loves relays! It’s about team unity, so to bring home a GOLD would be excellent!

Francesca Okwara

This is the first time you’re competing for Nigeria – can you tell Nigerians back home a bit about yourself? What can we expect from you in the coming years?

Well, I grew up in Memphis but my dad was born in Nigeria – he’s from Imo State. I run the 100 and 200 metres – you can look out for me to become one of the top sprinters for Nigeria in the future.

Fantastic – what are your Personal Bests (PBs) in the 100m & 200m?

11.4 seconds in the 100 metres, and 23.3 seconds in the 200 metres

Have you been to Nigeria recently? When will you be coming next?

Actually I’ve never been – I’ll be coming for the first time in June, for the Commonwealth Games Trials. I hope to lower my PBs, to 11.2 in the 100 metres and to 23 low in the 200 metres.

 

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Nigeria’s 10th & Final RELAY Medal – Women’s 4x100m Bronze @ Beijing ’08

24 May

Nigeria’s 10th and very last Relay medal on the global stage came at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in the women’s 4x100m quartet of Franca Idoko, Halimat Ismaila, Gloria Kemasuode and Oludamola Osayomi, brought home the Bronze medal in 43.04 seconds, against all the odds, behind Russia and Belgium! (Agnes Osazuwa also won a Bronze medal by virtue of having run in the heats):

One can say that the stars aligned on this one for Nigeria, considering that Team USA was disqualified in the heats, while Team GB and a Jamaican quartet that was widely tipped to break the World Record, dropped their batons in the Final and did not finish! Indeed, the quartet at the following Olympics, which included Blessing Okagbare on the anchor leg, finished quicker in 42.64 seconds, but could only manage 4th place behind Team USA’s new World Record of 40.82s, and National Records for Jamaica and Ukraine in 2nd and 3rd place:

This was a classic case of Nigeria improving, but everyone else improving a whole lot more – can you imagine that our Bronze medal winning time of 43.04s at Beijing ’08 would not have even made the finals at London 2012? What will the current girls comprising Team Nigeria’s 4×100 quartet (Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Peace Uko and Endurance Abinuwa) do TONIGHT at the 1st ever World Relays, in the semis @ 10.45pm and possibly the finals @1.30am Nigerian time? It will  show LIVE on the IAAF Official Channel on YouTube, and on SuperSport 6 (DSTV Channel 206) on TV!

Team Nigeria's Bronze Medal winning quartet in the women's 4x100 metres at the Beijing 2008 Olympics!

Team Nigeria’s Bronze Medal winning quartet in the women’s 4×100 metres at the Beijing 2008 Olympics!

The World Relays is a new annual competition (the 1st edition being held in The Bahamas on May 24th/25th), where the world’s best Track & Field nations will compete over 10 different events – 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m & 4x1500m (both men and  women). There is a total prize fund of $1.4  million up for grabs, and for the 4x100m & 4x400m, the 2014 World Relays will serve as the qualifiers for the 2015 World Championships (as will the 2015 World Relays for the 2016 Olympics). For viewers in Nigeria and Africa, the World Relays will show LIVE on SuperSports and the IAAF Official YouTube Channel on May 24th/25th 

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