Okowa doles out N500, 000 to injured athlete
United States-based Nigerian speedstar, Godson Brume, may join the country’s relay team for the Lagos Series event on Friday. Brume, a student at the Louisiana State University, could not participate at the national trials in Benin City, Edo State, due to a combination of circumstances.
The Nigerian relay teams are already in Lagos in pursuit of the Budapest 2023 World Championships qualification marks, following their inability to secure the tickets at the African Region 2 Relay events in Lome, Togo, at the weekend.
Three countries, Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic are the countries already confirmed for the event. The news of Brume’s presence in the squad for the 4x100m relay on Friday sparked excitement at the team’s hotel yesterday.
Godson did two sub-10 runs in the build up to the World Championships, with the 9.90 seconds he did in June. He is Nigeria’s brightest sprinter at the moment.
Godson’s mother, Adaka Sally, a former track and field star, who also played and retired from handball in 2006, told The Guardian, yesterday, that her son would arrive in Lagos later today or tomorrow morning ahead of the Lagos Series.
“I am glad there is still another window of opportunity for my son to join the team,” she said. “Godson needed to collect a letter from his school, which he has done. I spoke with my daughter, Ese Brume, a few minutes ago, and she confirmed that she had already bought the ticket for Godson. He will fly from Atlanta to Lagos.”
Sally had explained to The Guardian during the national trials that Godson did everything he could to be in Benin City for the event, but a combination of circumstances stopped him. She revealed then that Godson’s stay visa in America expired, and even when he decided to risk it and travel to Nigeria, he couldn’t get a flight.
“It was a pity he couldn’t make it to Benin City, but he will be with the relay team for the Lagos Series on Friday,” she stated. Godson is seen as an athlete that could help Nigeria’s 4x100m team qualify for the World Championships.
Meanwhile, AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, has given N500, 000 to hurdler, Precious Okonye, who broke his leg during the national trials, for medical expenses.
Okowa’s attention was drawn to the athlete’s Save My Soul’ Account, where he demanded for N500, 000 to commence his medical. Okowa was said to have responded swiftly by paying the N500, 000 into Okonye’s account on behalf of the AFN.
