By Gracious Akujobi Nigeria’s Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) Tamuno Danagogo and Director General of NSC, Gbenga Elegbeleye, are among the dignitaries expected to grace the first leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League which flags off on Saturday in Abuja.
Over 500 athletes from different states and athletics clubs across the country have registered their presence in the nation’s capital city and set to commence action with the aim of staking a claim to the N2, 000,000 jackpots up for grabs.
The presence of elite athletes like Obinna Metu, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and a host of others will no doubt add colour to the event which is the third AFN-organised meet of the season, following the Solid Works Over-Distance meet and the D.K Olukoya U-18 Championships, both of which took place in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
Metu and Egwero, who are definitely among the country’s top sprinters, registered their presence at the over-distance meet earlier this year. However fans were denied of an explosive encounter between the pair, following Metu’s absence in the final of the 150m and will certainly look forward to a thrilling race at the National Stadium, Abuja.
Egwero said of their rivalry, “Well the truth is that I am not scared of anyone and I don’t think anyone is afraid of me. I will just have to do what I have to do and in any race, even if I win or lose, I know things that have to be corrected.
“Metu is my team mate and if I beat him or he beats me, it makes no difference; all we have to do is make a mark while at the international level.”
The proposed venues of subsequent editions of the Golden League include Ilorin, Akure, Kaduna, Benin City and Port Harcourt respectively.
