Nigeria’s foremost 400m runner, Erayokan Orukpe said the 4×400 meters male athletes gave their best to win a bronze medal at the just concluded African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta state.
The team of Orukpe Erayokan, Chidi Okezie, Samson Nathaniel and Isah Salihu won a bronze medal.
Orukpe said before they started the race, they told themselves winning a medal is possible.
“I went there to do my thing as usual. Before we entered the track, we told ourselves that everything is possible as long as everyone there is human. This amazing team cannot leave the track filled with spectators hanging without a medal on our home soil; it’s not possible. This motivated us to return with a bronze medal after much determination”, Orukpe said
He said, “The team is excited because this is the beginning of a new era, our best is yet to come. All the team needs now is sponsor and sports journalists are aware of our predicament.”
“If sponsors show up today, this team will perform exploits in the world. One can’t consume garri always and you expect him or her to perform up to expectation. The sports we are engaged in are like an office which one must put total concentration and commitment”.
“These sponsors must stop the mentality of sponsoring football alone because they are not the only sport. I’m not speaking for only athletics but other medal winning sports in the country. We can perform better than football if given the adequate attention,” Orukpe added.
