Danger in Athletics family, as feud between Okagbare, Asumnu deepens News

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Danger in Athletics family, as feud between Okagbare, Asumnu deepens

By Daily Sports on July 18, 2016

The long awaited 2016 Rio Olympic Games is less than three weeks away, but what appears a big threat to the 10 medals target by Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, may be afoot, unless urgent steps are taken to resolve an alleged feud now raging between two US-based female sprinters, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and Gloria Asumnu.

The duo of Okagbare and Asumnu are expected to play a key role in Team Nigeria’s quest for medal when hostilities begin in track and field at the Olympics.

While Okagbare is listed for three events: 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, Asumnu will fly the nation’s flag in two events-100m and 4x100m relay.

Other athletes for the women’s 4 x 100m relay pool are Peace Alphonsus Uko, Agnes Osazuwa, Jennifer Madu, Zainab Sanni, Cecilia Francis, Olivia Ekpone and Kadijah Suleiman.

Last year, Okagbare missed an opportunity to become the first Nigerian woman after Mary Onyali to go seven times in the sprints without a defeat.

She had ruled the event unchallenged for six years, but her failure to show up for the All Nigerian Open Championship in Warri, Delta State, where athletes were selected for the 2015 IAAF World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China, gifted Asumnu the 100m title.

In Beijing, Okagbare played into the bad books of some Nigerian athletics followers, when she refused to show up for the 200m final after fumbling in the 100m final.

Two days later, Okagbare showed up for a money-spinning Diamond League event, and in the process incurred the wrath of Nigerians, who labeled her unpatriotic.

Before her departure from Team Nigeria’s camp in Beijing, an altercation was said to have ensued between Okagbare and some of the athletes, who were equally disappointed with her refusal to run in the 200m final. Asumnu was said to have used that opportunity to air her grievances against Okagbare, when she allegedly pointed out that Okagbare only selects events she wants to feature for Nigeria.

Since then, Okagbare does not want to see eye Asumnu and it played out again at the just concluded All Nigeria Open Championship in Sapele, Delta State,” one official told The Guardian during the week.

Three years ago in Calabar, Cross River State, Okagbare won the 100m title for a sixth time in a row to become the second woman only after Mary Onyali to achieve such feat in Nigeria sprint history.

Prior to that event, the Delta State born athlete had won a double title in the same competition when she defeated Asumnu and others to win the sprint in addition to the long jump medal. That was the All Nigeria Athletics Championship used as qualification meet for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and African Athletics Championship in Marakech, Morocco, where Okagbare shone like a million star.

In Okagbare’s absence last year in Warri, Asumnu easily grabbed the 100m title against a tough field that included Stephanie Kalu, Ngozi Onwumere, Deborah Odeyemi, Nkem Ezealah and Dominique Duncan. She clocked a Season’s Best (SB) of 11.42 seconds.

At the just concluded All Nigerian Open Championship in Sapele, where athletes were selected for the Rio Olympics, the feud between Okagbare and Asumnu was said to have played out once again.

A ‘finger-posture’ by Okagbare before the 100m race drew a lot of criticism from across the land. Okagbare did the middle finger posture before the race, which she won at the expense of Asumnu to claim her seventh 100m title.

Some Nigerians, who reacted to the ‘finger posture,’ said that such signs coming from Nigeria’ s top athlete should raise concern, be debated and dealt with accordingly.

“If it were in Europe or US, Okagbare would have a hell of a time with the media, fans, sponsors and administrators over that picture,” one sports journalist pointed out shortly after the championship.”

Another top sports journalist said: “I’m sure she was sending a message to the sports authorities who have supervised Nigeria’s worst preparation ever for the Olympics.”

However, The Guardian learnt that Okagbare confided in some people during the championship in Sapele that her ‘finger-posture’ was a signal for Asumnu and not the federal government.

“Okagbare is not hiding it. She told some people that her finger-posture in Sapele was for Asumnu. She sees her as an enemy and that is not good for Team Nigeria, especially now that the two athletes are part of the relay team for the Rio Olympics,” the source told The Guardian.

“I am saying this because in a relay team, all the athletes must work together and must be in friendly mood towards one another for the country to achieve good result. Okagbare and Asumnu will certainly be part of our relay team in Rio and it will be counter-productive to parade two ‘enemies’ at such big occasion. It has to be resolved as quickly as possible,” the source stated.Efforts to speak with Okagbare and Asumnu on the issue were fruitless, just as no AFN official was ready to comment on it.

•Text from ngrguardiannews.com. Photo show Blessing Okagbare

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 18, 2016