By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Athletes groomed under the tutelage of the Coach Felix Academic and Sports Foundation (CFASF) dominated proceedings at the foundation’s athletics Meet held as part of activities to mark it’s fourth Annual Stakeholders Congress held on December 29 at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
CFASF’s Oyetunji Abdulazeez extended his dominance from the 300m MA Relay Championship last two weeks and breezed past the rest of the field in the men’s 150m at the CFASF Stakeholders Congress to take the win in a jawbreaking 15.2s ahead of his teammate, John Monday (15.7s) and Ogazi Samuel (15.8s) who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively with a new personal best.
CFASF’s Temitope Olusesan also powered to a massive Personal Best (PB) of 17.6s to claim the win of the women’s 150m, edging out her former team mate, Taiye Ogundele who ran from lane 8, with a new PB of 17.9. In 3rd place was team felix Elizabeth Alege.
On odds as favourite for the win in the men’s 450m, Habib Suraj placed his name on the record, leading from start to finish to win in 55.3s, Akwaga Alphonsus ran 58.8s and Farour Kase came third with 60.2s.
Temitope Olusesan also from Team CFASF was unstoppable in the women’s 450m.
She lived up to her reputation as the meet’s favourite after staging an impressive performance in the 300m last two weeks at MA Relay championship.
She comfortably won the 450m at with 65.6s ahead of Favour Emmanuel of (Coach George) who finished in 71.9s and Juliet Emmanuel 72.1s.
Elizabeth Alege anchored Team CFASF to a clear victory in their 4x100m women’s relay in 49.5s ahead of Team George in 52.1s and 3rd was Team Dynamics in 52.3s.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out as expected for Team CFASF in the men’s 4×100m as Team Dynamics got the win with 42.0s. They settled for the second spot with 42.3s while Team George came in third.
The Technical Director Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Samuel Onikeku a Kaduna-born and a Customs officer based in Abuja, thanked Coach Felix for this brilliant initiative and putting resources together in this hard times.
He also thanked everyone who supported the programme in one way or the other, promising athletes in the Northern states that minimum of two competitions will come to the region in the coming season.
On the other hand, the Director of Sports Kaduna State Ministry of Sports Development, Malam Yakubu Ibrahim also thanked Coach Felix for his creativity in promoting athletics in the state and Nigeria as a whole.
He promised that the ministry will always support his ideas, while encouraging the athletes to keep their focus and not to get involved in enhancing substances.
Founder and Head Coach CFSAF, Osiebe Felix Onoriode thanked God for His divine favour.
He appreciated CFASF’s affiliate organisations; Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development, Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), Athletics Coaches Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Association of Athletics Technical Officials (NAATO).
He also lauded partners; MicroManna Computers Limited, The Cavendish College, Manna Academy, Faith Academy, Princess Mabel Madojiemu Athletics Foundation and Ihifix Academy.
Similarly, stakeholders like President Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod, Technical Director AFN, Samuel Onikeku, MA Athletics sponsor, Musa Audu, World Athletics Athletes Representative, Cmdr Nesiam Omatseye (rtd), former African 100m record holder & Olympics Bronze Medalist, Olusoji Fasugba, African 400m Gold Medalist, Princess Mabel Madojiemu and World Championship bronze medalist coach, Kayode Yaya, were hailed for their support.
Coach Felix said the fourth stakeholders congress was a huge success, explaining that the bar has been taken higher from the first edition which was just meeting with parents.
Mrs Fatima Lekwot mother to youngest performing #TeamCFASF female athlete Peace Lekwot and mother figure to #TeamCFASF, she is always available during our training,competitions and programs for encouragement and support.
Today we appreciate your effort, your dedication, your struggle and your passion. We remind you that you are the inspiration of those little giants that day by day dazzle us with their extraordinary effort and struggle. Thank you for pushing them from the sidelines and being their number one fan.
CFASFStakeholdersCongress
“In the second edition, we introduced athletics competition for under 18/20 and we also invited guest speakers to talk with our learners about maximizing youthfulness and how to manage peer pressure.
“In the third edition, it was substance abuse and youth delinquency and athletics competition.
” The fourth edition was more elaborate than others because of the new innovations, cash award for the winners of races, presence of International sports legends as speakers, high profile dignitaries, parents involvement and high performance during the races.
“With the results achieved, we are hopeful that Kaduna is getting back on track, the result was as a result of combined efforts of Olusoji Fasaugba, (former African Record Holder) and Coach Abdulhakim Idris, youngest World athletics coach,” he explained.
In attendance were the Director of Sports Kaduna State Ministry of Sports Development, Malam Yakubu Ibrahim, Technical Director Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Onikeku and his wife, Mrs Chinedu Onikeku. Sports Officer, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development North West Zone, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris and the National Organising Secretary, Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, Malam Abdulrazak Usman.
Others spotted were, Coach of NIgeria’s long jump World Championship bronze medalist and African record holder, Was Brume, Coach Kayode Yaya, former head coach and Deputy Director Ministry of Sports Development, Kaduna State, Coach Charles Yayock, former national president NAATO, as well as parents, journalists and well wishers.
Key actors at the event included Olusoji Fasugba who educated audience on drug free & high performance in athletics and Mabel Madojiemu, who donated the winning prize for the star event 150m & 450m for men and women.
Musa Audu, NIgeria’s Olympics bronze medalist gave details of the benefits of sports participation.
