Fasuba targets world title
By Festus Abu
Published: Tuesday, 13 Jan 2009
Africa’s fastest man, Olusoji Fasuba, may dump Nigeria for a European country to enable him to realise his ambition to rule the world.
Olusoji Fasuba
The 25-year-old, who won the World Indoor Championships 60m on March 8, 2008 in Valencia, Spain, failed on the biggest stage when he crashed out in the second round of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games 100m, finishing fourth after Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson, America‘s Tyson Gay and France’s Martial Mbandjock.
Speaking with our correspondent on Monday in Lagos, Fasuba, who is one of the Nigerian athletes being assisted in training by Nigerian-born Portugal sprint sensation, Francis Obikwelu, in Lagos, expressed disappointment with the sports authorities in the country over the lack of planning and welfare for the national athletes.
He said, “I’m happy that Francis Obikwelu is home to assist us in our training. We are enjoying every bit of it.
“I’ve not decided whether I should run for another country for now. Maybe I’ll consider it when I’m approached. But I still love my country and will continue to do my best for Nigeria.
“Right now, I want to train hard to win something for myself and the country, with or without the support of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria or the National Sports Commission.”
The Ekiti State-born sprinter, who established a new African record with 9.85 seconds at the Doha Grand Prix in May 2006, breaking Frankie Fredericks’ old record of 9.86 seconds from 1996, lamented his poor showing at the Beijing Games.
He said, “There was no serious preparation for the games. We only had a crash programme as usual.
“I wanted to win something in Beijing but unfortunately I never had the opportunity to prepare like other athletes.”
Fasuba said it was a disgrace that Nigeria had limited its ambition to remaining the African champion rather than exploiting its potential to rule the world.
“We have some of the best athletes in the world but unfortunately we have allowed poor planning to rob us of the opportunity to rule the world,” he said.
He praised the Civil Defence Corps for supporting him, promising to repay the faith by winning medals for the country.