Local News

Nigeria: Golden League Final – Who Wins the N2 Million Jackpot?

June 15, 2011

Nigeria: Mobil Pulls Out of Athletics Championships — 15 June 2011 Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) has pulled out of the sponsorship of the annual All Nigeria Open Athletics Championships with immediate effect. In a statement signed by its Executive Director,Gloria Essien-Danner,Mobil did not state any reason for pulling out of the sponsorship of Athletic Federation of Nigeria's flagship event but thanked the federation for the opportunity it got with its joint venture partner,the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to contribute to the development of sports in Nigeria. The statement reads thus:The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) /Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) joint venture confirms that effective 2011 it will no longer be the title sponsor of the Nigerian Track and Field Athletics Championship, which has become the foremost event for selecting Nigeria's representatives to major international athletics championships

Duro Ikhazuagbe

15 June 2011

Who wins the N2m at stake in the final leg of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Golden League taking place today at the Warri City Stadium?

After top contender, homeboy Egwero Ogho Oghene missed out because he skipped the Lagos leg to race in the IAAF Area Meet in Rabat, Morocco same weekend the fourth leg took place, all attention will today be focussed on the remaining four who maintained their winning streaks to this final.

Despite not been able to meet the 8m mark yet, Shola Anota (Defender Club) is the sure-bet for the long jump title. However, that depends on whether current Nigerian champion, United States of America based Stanley Gbagbeke who arrived Nigeria on Tuesday is not interested in jumping. Only Gbagbeke has soared above the 8m in the last couple of years. It is understood that the Delta-born jumper who has a 10.2 this season is going to race in the short sprint to help his jumps.

As for Baba Ibrahim, the Ondo athlete remains unassailable in the hammer event and except nature plays trick on his health, he is number one in contention for a piece of the Golden League cake.

Justin Agu, (NSCDC) another contender who has been consistent since the first leg in Port Harcourt has no opposition in the 800m and is a sure-bet for the gold and a share in the jackpot.

The real battle of prestige is going to happen in the 4x100m women relay where the NSCDC team is in contention for a share of the jackpot. All Tuesday, every Delta athlete whose views were sort on the race believe that the Corps members have reached their bus stop and are likely going to miss out of the honey-pot.