Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Fasuba, Aliu, Emedolu get automatic invitation
By Olukayode Thomas

WITH the decision of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to use athletes' ranking in the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) top 50 ranking as criteria for inviting athlete for Mobil/Esso Track and Field Championships, only three Nigerian athletes may be invited for the next edition.

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The AFN recently decided that the era of free for all invitation to athletes was over. It noted that to make the championship competitive and glamorous, only athletes in the top 20 on the IAAF's top 50 would be invited for the championship.

As at today, only three Nigerian athletes, all of them male sprinters, are in the IAAF top 20.

The new kid on the block, Olusoji Fasuba, leads the pack as he is ranked the 10th best male sprinter in the world today.

Fasuba, who had an excellent run in the indoor circuit, is equally putting up a splendid performance in the outdoor circuit.

If the young sprinter is able to maintain his current form, he might end up not only winning the top prize at the championship slated for the mainbowl of Abuja Stadium next month, but the million naira jackpot.

Closely following Fasuba is African champion, Deji Aliu, he is ranked 13th in the world. Aliu has not done much sprinting this year both indoors and outdoors. The tall sprinter, however, has a lot of experience behind him, especially, during big occasion.

A world junior champion in 1994, Aliu's main problem has been injury. Since last year, he has not been in the best of shape.

Uche Emedolu is fast enough not to be ranked outside the top 20. He is ranked 19th in world. A 200m specialist and the World Cup champion, Emedolu has what it takes to win the Mobil/Esso 100m title.

Apart from these three athletes, no other Nigerian athlete is in the top 20.

In the women sprint, Endurance Ojokolo is ranked 32nd in the world while Mercy Nku follows closely in the 33rd position.

Before now, Nigeria used to have three to four athletes in the women's top 20 in the 100m and the 200m.

The 400m is even worst. There is no Nigerian woman quartermiler in the top 50, and in the men's pool, only Saul Weigopwa is ranked. He is ranked 37th in the world.

Angela Atede is the only Nigerian hurdler that is ranked. She is ranked 27th in the world in the 100m hurdles.

In the field events, Vivian Chukwuemeka-Peters is the only Nigerian ranked. She is ranked 21st in the world in the women's shot put.

Many athletics buffs blame the poor showing of Nigeria athletes in the IAAF ranking on the decadence of the past few years.

They recalled that the lack of competitions, especially on the local scene, during the Dan Ngerem led-board was responsible for the rot.

They cited the death of major developmental programme like UNIC Classics, Folawiyo, Sunny Odogwu, Dan Ngerem and other as being responsible for the decline.

They believe that the revival of competitions by the Violet Odogwu-Nwajei led-board, the introduction of prize money and other incentives by Mobil/Esso, Nigerian athletes will be ranked among the world best before Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.