Okagbare, Osayami, Oriala, Metu wary of Mobil dark horses
Sports Jul 21, 2009
The yearly Mobil track and field championship is reputed for throwing up stars and this year will not be an exception.
Athletes have had to shoot to stardom competing in the Mobil Championship. The latest in the list of stars who competed at the Mobil Championships and went to win an Olympic medal is Blessing Okagbare who won bronze in the long jump event in Beijing.
With another Mobil here, the fear of the dark horse is the beginning of wisdom. At the practice pitch of the Abuja Stadium yesterday, Benjay Adisa who said he will compete in the discuss event men as unattached brought this issue to the fore when he said the foreign based were free to enjoy their moment. “They know when they get out there it is going to be a different kettle of fish
“Now the media is swarming all over them, taking pictures and seeking interviews.
“For most of them, this Mobil will be the beginning of the end. You think we admire them, yes we do but we are also looking at them with determination, determined to go out there and wipe that smile off their faces. As we look at them, they are also looking at us,” Adisa said.
During the domestic classics, the AFN conscious of the not too impressive performances of the home based athletes opened an Ibadan camp where athletes were fed regularly and subjected to training to be able to meet up the required standard. It is from this camp that surprises are likely to spring forth.