AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League: Benin City Welcomes Egwero, Others

Benin, the Capital City of Edo state will this weekend welcome Nigeria athletes to the second leg of the five leg in the 2013 Athletics Federation of Nigeria/Solid Works Limited Golden League which will hold in the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium this Saturday.

Scheduled to compete in Benin in the second leg is Nigeria’s frontline male sprinter Ogho-Oghene Egwero will be competing for the first time in the 2013 AFN golden League 100m event in Benin, event which was not included In the first leg when the golden league started in Shagamu two weeks ago. Also in for the Benin Meet are Issa Salihu, Chinazom Amadi, Margaret Etim amongst others.

Egwero who ran the 4x100m relay for Delta State at Shagamu said he could not compete because his event was not listed on the schedule.
“I came to Shagamu to run but my event (100m) was not listed, so I had to run the relay and I was happy we won it. Benin would be another race I won’t like to miss; I learnt the 100m event is listed.

The Women’s long jump event, though not in the Golden League is another must watch event. Competing for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp female long jumper Chinazom Amadi who leaped a distance of 6.17m at Shagamu said Benin would be different.
“My performance at Shagamu was not good; I hope to jump better in Benin this weekend.
“Reasons for not jumping well were the absence of the landing board, couple with the fact that long jump was the last event, everyone was hurrying out of the stadium. It had an impact on some of us. I believe they would provide the landing board in Benin and fans would be on hand to support us as we compete,” Amadi said.

Most athletes have also commended AFN for slightly reviewing their stance on monetary rewards for winners. At Shagamu, there were no cash prizes for winners except they met set standards for their events but the AFN had promised to reconsider the decision and provide cash prizes for top four athletes as subsidy to enable them accommodate and feed themselves in Benin.

The second leg of the 2013 AFN/Solid Works Limited Golden League will take place this Saturday, 27th April at the the University of Benin, in Benin City, Edo State.