Nigeria, Cameroun, others for Relays as AFN honours late sport veteran
BY MUHAMMAD TIJJANI KANEMPRESS
24TH JULY, 2023
Nigerian 4x100m relay team and counterparts from four other African countries, including Cameroun, Niger Republic and Mali will take part in this year’s Relays in Asaba, Delta State on Thursday.
Asides the five African countries coming for the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events, all secondary schools in all the three senatorial districts of Delta State have been directed to produce three teams to compete in the 4x100m, 4x400m and mixed relays.
The Nigerian 4x100m relay team could not qualify for Budapest on Saturday in Cotonou, Benin Republic due to a mix up in the baton exchange.
The Head Coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Seigha Porbeni, said the relay event would be used to honour former Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, Dr. Awoture Eleyae, who died on Friday in Benin City, Edo State.
“We are holding a three in one athletics event on July 27 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba to honour the late Dr. Awoture Eleyae for his contributions to sports in Nigeria and the entire African continent,” Porbeni said.
Eleyae, a native of Uzere, Isoko South Council of Delta State, Southern Nigeria, headed the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa, SCSA from 1992 to 2004.
He was a member of many international professional bodies, whose pet project, Awoture Eleyae’s U-14, U-15 and U-17 Athletics competitions in Ozoro, led to the discovery of many Nigerian talents, including Ese Brume, Divine Oduduru and Favour Ofili between 2013 and 2014.
The late Dr Awoture Eleyae served as a National Chief Track and Field Athletics coach.
He captained the Nigerian Basketball team to the first All Africa Games in 1965. He also designed the Nigerian Institute for Sports (NIS), and became the first Principal of the Institute from 1975 to 1984, where he rose to the substantive post of Deputy Director of Sports, National Sports Commission (NSC) and also acted as Director General of the Commission from February 1981 to May, 1982.
