By; Ayo Ojedokun, Lagos.
A Nigerian footballer who at the same time ply his trade in Camp oder , Harrison Chinedu,has put Nigeria’s name in the Guinness World Book of Record after traveling the farthest distance with ball balanced on the head.
To achieve the feat, Chinedu trekked a distance of 48.04 kilometers in 6 hours, 15 minutes to break the previous record set by Indian Soldier, Naib Subedar Azad Singh, who in 2014 travelled a distance of 45.64 km to erase the record set by Abdul Halim of Bangladesh who travelled a distance of 15.2 km on October 22, 2011 and additional 35 minutes to set the new record.
The history-making event which was flagged off by representative of Minister of Youth and Sports, Demola Are, after the ball and his head was inspected by President of Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez assisted by former FIFA-badged referee and senior lecturer at the National Institute for Sports, Dr. Alex Mana, and ex- Olympian, Henry Amike, saw him trek from kilometer 46 of the Redeemed Camp to the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
At the National Stadium, he trekked round the main bowl eleven times to break the record before trekking further eleven times to set a new record.
Chinedu,in his reaction told NNSports shortly after setting the new record that he was happy to put Nigeria in the World Records, even as he describe his feat to hard work and dedication.
The athlete, who expressed appreciation to the Rafiu Oladipo Sports Foundation which organised the event, for believing in his abilities, stated that his greatest challenge during the event was when he nearly had a muscle strain at Berger Bus Stop.
“I am happy that the scare gave way immediately to enable me continue the journey unhindered,” he added.
He was full of appreciation to the Rafiu Oladipo Sports Foundation “for encouraging me both financially and otherwise and also made contacts with the Guinness Book of World Records office to ensure the event took place.”
President of the Foundation, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, who doubles as President of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, recalled that the foundation received less support at inception of the event.And they are happy that it saw the light of the day in the end.
Ladipo further explained that Chinedu is a Nigerian sports ambassador and pledged his foundation’s sponsorship for the athlete to Tafisa 2016” championship.
“We are also committed to helping any talented Nigerian youth put the country’s name on the world map,” explained Oladipo.
