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PUBLISHED BY " THE VANGUARD" NEWSPAPER IN NIGERIA

ALL AFRICA GAMES : Nigerian flagbearers emerge today •Fasuba, Emedolu battle for supremacy, as Ojokolo seeks respect

Posted to the Web: Saturday, May 19, 2007

As the curtin falls today at the Mobil Track and Field event, which kicked off on Thursday inside the new Teslim Balogun Stadium, Nigerians await the athletes that will represent her at the 9th All Africa Games billed for Algiers, Algieria, come July.

The All Africa Games, over the years, has become an avenue to showcase talents and test budding stars without loosing grip of the fact that it is also a platform to show a nation’s strength in sports. These days, it has become a political tool as well.

Although, it is almost a forgone conclusion in the 100m and 200m events for men. African record holder, Olusoji Fasuba, still believes that the event is open to other athletes. “The 100m is anybody’s race. A good start can produce results but a poor start may spell doom”, he said.

But, with his performance within and outside the country, Fasuba has sounded it loud and clear to anyone that cared to listen. His intentions are crystal. He is not only interested in winning the 100m event, but, he wants to do so with a new African record.

The University of Ibadan graduate returned a slow time at the Grand Prix in Abuja three weeks ago with a time of 10.23 seconds but still won the event ahead of Uchenna Emedolu who brushed aside the defeat to win the 200m.

For Fasuba, the national trials is an avenue to prepare for other major events ahead of him this year. The Osun born state athlete believes strongly that he can better the African record in Algiers.

“I know within me that I can run a lot faster than I did in Abuja. The 9.85 second is certainly not ny best. I am very sure that my best is yet to come and, hopefully, I look forward to the All Africa Games with a lot of expectations. I have my eyes fixed on the gold in Algiers and to improve my African record too”, Fasuba said.

The 22 year old ran 10.17 at the World Athletics Tour meet in Dakar, Senegal, and improved on that time at the Grand Prix. “I am sure I can run a lot faster.

I am continuing my training programme and I believe I can do better in subsequent meets”, he said. In Qatar, last year, Fasuba set the new African record in the 100m with 9.85 seconds, which made him the 8th fastest in the 100m.

In Abuja, his pace was too much for former World Cup winner, Uchenna Emedolu, who clocked 10.23 seconds to finish in the second position. Chinedu Oriala, who once showed flashes of a world class athlete, finished third with 10.36 seconds. Since his feat in Qatar, Fasuba has not reneged on his promise to dominate the 100m event in Africa.

Today’s 100m final will present another opportunity for both athletes to battle for supremacy.

Emedolu has proved that he still has some dynamite in his legs.

In Abuja, he ran 20.00 second (hand timed) to win the 200m at the Grand Prix. Uche, as he fondly called by friends, alongside Deji Aliu, once commanded respect in the 100m, not only in Africa, but also at the world stage.

While Uche won the World Cup, Deji, it would be recalled, was the former junior champion.

But, like a bolt out of the blues, Fasuba emerged and none of the duo could handle him.

The Osun state born athlete, not only believes that he can repeat his performance in Qatar, he strongly believes that he can run a lot faster than the 9.85 seconds.

To buttress his point, Fasuba recorded another great time in the 60 meters in an indoor event in Europe.

In the women 100m event, it would be a straight fight between Francisca Idoko, who won the 100m event in Abuja, and two-time winner, Endurance Ojokolo. The former Nigerian queen was on the starting block when Idoko did her thing in Abuja. Today, Endurance will be handed a golden opportunity to prove that Idoko’s win in Abuja was a fluke.

Idoko is not a novice in the game. She was a member of the 2006 World Cup 4x100m relay team and, in Abuja, she ran her new personal best, returning a time of 11.26 seconds to erase her old time of 11.44 seconds. So Ojokolo must be at her best to beat the emerging queen.

In the shot-put event, former Commonwealth Games queen, Vivian Chukwuemeka, who won with new personal best of 18.18m in Abuja, will also be on hand to pick a place in Nigeria’s contingent to Algeria. Vivian carries Nigeria’s hope of a gold medal in the shot-put event.

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Mobil Trials: Fasuba Writes Off Teslim’s Tracks
16th May

By Uzor Odigbo

Correspondent, Lagos

Africa’s 9.86sec 100m holder, Olusoji Fasuba, has written off the Teslim Balogun stadium’s tartan tracks, saying the undulating nature of the tracks make it dangerous to run on.
Consequently, he has opted out of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) trial that serves as the qualifiers for the 9th All Africa Games holding in Algeria from July 11 to 22. He said he would not risk running on the track, as it could ruin his career.
But former AFN technical director Brown Ebewele, who later inspected the tracks, said the fault was not unusual. “There’s nothing to worry about, some parts of the lanes are actually undulated but won’t be enough to stop him running.”
Fasuba’s threat to pull out of the All Africa Games trials may not be unconnected with what he described as the risk involved if he incidentally sprains his ankle during trials.
“I have to let the authorities know this ahead of time. They should move the race to Abeokuta or somewhere else if they want me to participate.”
To this end, Ebewele said, suggesting that the championship be moved to another venue within 24 hours was crazy, adding that the top athlete has not revealed what he had in mind.
“Fasuba informed me about uneven surface of the Teslim Balogun tracks and I said let me go and verify. I actually noticed some undulated part which to mind was not capable of causing any injuries; if he now says the venue should be changed, I think that would be a crazy thing to do.”
The Edo State director of sports therefore suggested that rolling a heavy machine on the tracks would make the surface even.
Ebewele was also elated that the championship has returned to Lagos where people who have passion for the sports would appreciate, adding that Abuja has a negative effect on the progress of athletics in the country.

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Fasuba, Kemesuede Win Mobil Athletics Championship
Sunday, May 20, 2007
BY OLUKAYODE THOMAS

Olusoji Fasuba claimed the 100 metres title with a time of 10.23sec at the Mobil Athletic Championship, which ended yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Fasuba who has been in blistering form this season beat Uchenna Emedolu (10.47) and Uche Isaac (10.53) to the second and third place respectively.

Despite winning the race, Fasuba is yet to reach his potential but still have the opportunity to do so as the season is still early.

In the female category, Gloria Kemesuede won in a time of 11.40 sec, Francisca Idoko finshed second in a time of 11.55 secs while favourite, Endurance Ojokolo came third returning a time of 11.61 secs.

Ojokolo who has dominated the female 100 metres in recent time could not do so yesterday but she is still sure of representing the country at the All Africa Games in Algeria, which comes up in July.

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Mobil trials: Fasuba confirms class
By Festus Abu
Published: Sunday, 20 May 2007
Africa’s fastest man, Olusoji Fasuba, confirmed his class at the 18th Mobil Track and Field Trials, which ended at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday, coasting home to the gold medal in the men’s 100m final.

He won the race with a time of 10.32 secs, beating the 2002 World Cup winner, Uchenna Emedolu and Uche Isaac to the second and third positions respectively.

A former 100m title holder, Deji Aliu, crashed out in the semifinals due to an injury and could be out of the All Africa Games. The trials were to select the national squad for the 9th All Africa Games scheduled for Algeria in July.

In the keenly contested women’s 100m, Gloria Kemasuode stole the show, returning a time of 11.42 secs to grab the gold.

Favourite Francesca Idoko came second in a time of 11.55, while veteran sprinter Endurance Ojokolo placed a disappointing third with 11.61. Emem Edem took fourth in a time of 11.67 secs.

Samuel Okon won the men’s 110 hurdles with a time of 13.8 secs, while USA-based Toyin Augustus picked the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 13.62 secs. Joy Digha won the silver while Rebecca Okitipi carted home bronze.

Saul Weipogwa dusted arch-rival Godday James in the men’s 400m final to land the gold medal, leaving overseas-based Bola Lawal in the third position.

Speaking with our correspondent after winning the 100m event, Fasuba, who praised Emedolu for giving him a great challenge for the title, said he was hopeful of winning the gold medal event at the 9th All Africa Games.

“I’m proud of my performance; the time is good. It was not easy running on the tracks. They are slow and the wind was like a tornado,” he said.

Odiba Metu and Kemasuode won the 200 men and women races respectively. Kemasuode ’s feat was the first in the history of the Mobil trials.

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