Dateline; 4th All-Africa Games, Nairobi, Kenya; 1st-12th August, 1987. When in December 1986 when I was told of my nomination as part of the FRCN [RADIO NIGERIA] coverage team to the Games, I took it as one of my usual chores, for I had done some coverages prior to the time since I joined the services of the corporation on July 13, 1981.
All-Africa Games, a multi-sports event involving the entire African continent was a huge phenomenon, no wonder, our Oga, the iconic sports commentator, late Ernest Okonkwo continued to chide me anytime we met. He would say,” Emeka, eat, eat and eat for thy journey is great”. He would say it in such a joking manner that we laughed it off each time, regardless of the underlying meaning.
However, I didn’t take it lying low as I tried to muster as much information as I could on the Africa Games. Satisfied that I have armed myself historically, I looked forward to the games. Fast-forward to July 24th, 1987, the day of the journey, we set out early in the evening to the airport as our departure time was 11.55pm to Nairobi through Ethiopian Airlines. Armed myself with necessary weather outfits, we [Ernest Okonkwo-Team Leader, Sam Okolo, Umar Farouk-Musa and Myself] set off for the coverage of the 4th Al Africa Games; my first of such experience.
As usual, Ernest continued taunting me about eating for my great journey. Everything was okay, the flight, the on-board services until a few nautical miles to Addis Ababa airport, I became very uncomfortable as I became affected by the cold, almost like developing pneumonia. I almost gave up as I lost consciousness a few moments to landing. Every other thing happened behind me, but the story was that I was quickly evacuated in Addis and wheeled to a hospital where I spent 4 days on admission before moving to Nairobi for the games which would start in two days
I must express my gratitude to two officials from the Nigerian contingent while in the Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They were the then Chairman Nigeria Amateur Boxing Association [NABA] Group Captain Brai Ayonote and Dr. Kunle Joseph, the medical doctor attached to the Nigerian Contingent. They made my hospitalisation look like a holiday. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
Perhaps, my hospitalisation refreshed me as I was bouncing up and down collecting useful materials to aid us in our commentaries. One remarkable scenario was that apart from my international passport and flight ticket, the rest of my other items including my Estacode allowance was “willed” to Ernest Okonkwo who particularly carried this item everywhere he went. In fact he labelled it “ego Emeka” and in fact reported it on a live broadcast how he carried and cuddled the “estacode bag “ego Emeka” like a new born baby.
Ego Emeka became our watchword all through the coverage that long after our return, “ego Emeka” was a reference to our coverage of Nairobi ’87 including even the DG at the time. Now to the games
The 4th All-Africa Games Nairobi’87 started on August 1st with an elaborate opening ceremony presided by the Kenyan President, Daniel Arap Moi at the ultramodern National Stadium in Kasarani. It got on amidst a heightened hope for the Kenyan people who were bedevilled by harsh economic situation.
In fact the Nairobi games were earlier billed for 1982 but had to be postponed as a result of infrastructural delays until the Chinese came to give a helping hand. The host nation boasted of a handful of track and field athletes who distinguished themselves from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games, but they had their match in Innocent Egbunike, Mary Onyali, Chidi Imoh and a host of others.
The Nigerian athletes made sure that the high expectations of the host in athletics were dimmed as we a won all the 4×100 meters men and women and 4×400 meters men and women relays. In fact Onyali had to unusually anchor the finishing line in a devastating finish. The exhausted Onyali on breasting the tape lay flat on her back at the tracks to the extreme jubilation of many fans. It was indeed “hail Mary, full of speed…………..”
The cheering of Kenyan athletes who appeared to be in the lead as well as Arap Moi died down as the winners emerged. President Daniel Arap Moi later described Innocent Egbunike as not “truly innocent” for denying their athlete the gold medal. Ernest Okonkwo in his characteristic jokes while on commentary asked jokingly, “Emeka, if Innocent Egbunike is not innocent, what is he? And I said, well I think he is “nocent”.
It became an almost FRCN universal joke where Emeka Odikpo “teaches his listeners that the opposite of “innocent” is “nocent”. Three athletes, one male and two female won more than one event including Nigeria’s Maria USIFO in 100 and 400 meters Hurdles and Adewale Olukoju in Shot Put and Discuss, male.
Egypt which won the overall medals, 31gold, 22 silver and 20 bronze medals also won the football gold at the expense of the host Kenya. The Kenyan commentator broke down towards the end when it was obvious to him that the deed was already done, Perhaps, a snippet of his commentary may convey a little idea.
Commentator: The ball is with Otcheno, he gives it to Otieno who locates his Kenyan team mate right inside the penalty but oh my God, the God of Kenya, your son Odhiambo who has thrown the ball away to let Egypt win the gold…….oh Odhiambo, Odhiambo Odhiambo has killed the soul of Kenya……………….
Ernest ensured that a recording of the commentary went with us back to Nigeria. That commentary was showcased to our trainees on “How Not To Run Commentary”. Tunisia came second on the medals table with 28 gold, 26 silver and 22 bronze. In the third place was Nigeria with 23 gold, 16 silver and 21 bronze medals. The games flag was handed over to Cairo as the host of 1991 games.
Malawi made her first entry on the medals table with a bronze medal in football. The 4th All Africa Games, Nairobi ’87 presented other firsts as new women events were introduced. These included 400 meters, 3000 meters, 10000 meters and 5000 meters track-walk. In Nairobi’87 games, the Pentathlon event was replaced by Heptathlon.
Perhaps, it may be right to note that all the members of the FRCN coverage team except one, have passed on. That’s remembering Ernest Okonkwo, Sam Okolo and Umar Farouk Musa. May their souls rest in perfect peace, Amen!
