Fasuba, Iworima Are AFN’s Best Athletes
By Duro Ikhazuagbe, 12.05.2006
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Olusoji Fasuba, who last May in Doha, Qatar set a new African sprint record, has been picked as Nigeria’s Male Athlete of the Year by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Fasuba’s 9.85secs replaced the 9.86secs held by Namibian Frankie Frederick since 1996.
Speaking at an interactive session with sportswriters in Lagos yesterday, Violet Odogwu-Nwajei, AFN president revealed that Fasuba was chosen based on his outstanding performance in the out-going year.
“Mr Olusoji Fasuba was outstanding in the male category. Apart from winning silver at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia he also broke the African record with a time of 9.85 secs in the 100m on the 13th of May in Doha, Qatar,” added Mrs Odogwu-Nwajei.
Interestingly, another Commonwealth Games silver medallist, Rivers State-born Otonye Iworima was chosen by AFN as the Best Female Athlete of the out going year.
Iworima, who leapt 13.53m to win the silver in Melbourne, became the first female Nigerian to breast the14m mark when she jumped 14.05m at the Coca-Cola-sponsored Athletics Championship at the University of Lagos Sports Complex last July. It was however not ratified as it was wind aided.
While reviewing activities of the AFN board almost 20 months after being elected into office, the AFN chief hailed her colleagues for their performances so far.
"There has been no dull moment since we came on board. The first Classic was held in Enugu just two weeks after our inauguration, from then on several competitions followed. We have organised, partnered and participated in 20 major national and international championships.
“A breakdown shows that we had eight national competitions and 12 international championships. It will interest you that the success achieved at that maiden edition made the African Athletics Confederation (AAC) to elevate the Abuja Grand Prix to the IAAF World Tour,” explained the AFN boss.
On the lack of enough developmental programmes to discover fresh talents to replace ageing athletes, another AFN board member Joan Okorodudu called on the government to enforce a compulsory sports tax on the multinational companies operating in the country.
“A percentage of their profits should go for sports development. I am a product of the Samuel Ogbemudia miracle in the old Bendel State but right now how many states are supporting their athletes in camp even as we prepare for the All Africa Games next year,” she noted.