Sports
Ethiopians Win Obudu Mountain Race, Again
A two-time winner, Abebe Dinkesa of Ethiopia has again won the 2012 edition of the Obudu International Mountain race in the male category.
His compatriot, Etenesh Dironeda, also won the female category of the African Nations Mountain Running Championship.
Both of them went home with 50,000 dollars cash each and trophies.
The 8th edition of the race ended on Saturday in the Ranch Mountain Resort.
Dinkesa who breasted the tape in 1.00.58 seconds had won the race in 2008 and 2010 while Dironeda returned with a record time of 1.00.03 seconds to win in Obudu for the first time.
Macdonard Ondara from Kenya came second while Robert Chemosine also from Kenya took the third position with a time of 1.02.00 and 1.03.00 seconds in the male event.
In the female category, the 2007 winner Rita Jepto from Kenya came second clocking 1.02.45 seconds while Kipoech Paskalia from Kenya emerged third with 1.04.02 seconds.
In the Nigerian category, runners from Plateau swept the first three and first two positions in the male and female categories, respectively.
Emmanuel Gyang from Pankshin took the first position, Gideon Goyep and Danjuma Gyang from Vom took second and third positions, respectively.
In the female race, Deborah Pam came first for Nigeria and 8th in the African championship, Janet Dung and 13-year-old Jacinta Machu from the Ranch community came second and third among the Nigerian athletes and 9th and 10th in the African championship, respectively.
Commenting on the outcome of the race, Dinkesa who was full of excitement said that unlike last year when he came distant 11th he was delighted that he came tops in the 2012 edition of the race..
“I prepared very well for this race and I am happy I won. The new course is very tough and it is amazing,’’ he said.
Dinkesa, who wedded this year in Addis Ababa, said he was dedicating the victory to his wife and promised to come back stronger in the 2013 edition of the championship.
“Winning the race and conquering the mountain was not easy because the course is rugged and hilly, but I will come back next year. I am not afraid of any challenger,’’ he said.
Commenting on the 8th edition of the Obudu Mountain race, the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr Efiok Cobham, said he was impressed with the organisation and the performance of the Nigerian athletes.
He noted that the athletes were taking the race more seriously, adding that the state’s sports comprehensive programme was yielding meaningful results.
He expressed the hope that the athletes would do better next year and that in 2014 Nigeria would be among the first five or even win the race.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino last Thursday, in Abuja, revealed how Nigeria can be made a destination for top Grade A football matches and FIFA competitions.
Infantino gave the insight when the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare took him on a tour of the renovated main bowl of the MoshoodAbiola National Stadium.
The FIFA boss, who was visibly happy with the re-grassed pitch at the stadium, said well-maintained stadia with good pitches were key to hosting grade A matches.
He said FIFA was ready to work more closely with Nigeria to develop the game and host more grade A matches in the country.
“We (FIFA) have to make sure when a country, when a government with the President, the minister and private persons are investing in football, in stadia, we work with them to give something back.
“It’s obvious that stadiums like this (MoshoodAbiola stadium) and others in Nigeria deserve the best quality games.
“They deserve top national team games, top club games and it’s not just about Nigerian football or African football, it’s about global football.
“We are working together to see what kind of new opportunities, competitions we can bring for men and women to fill this stadium and make the heart of the stadium beat for the fantastic spectacle that all of the Nigerian love, which is football,” he said.
Earlier, the minister said the Federal Government will continue to invest in sports development and facilities.
Tidesports source reports that the FIFA President, in the company of the minister, had earlier visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Statehouse, as part of his engagement.
Former Nigerian goal keeper, Andrew Aikhomogbe has called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to resolve every outstanding salaries and bonuses owed to the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr before the next World Cup qualifiers against Central Africa Republic (CAR).
Aikhomogbe made this known on the backdrop of the football body’s recent deal with Baba Ijebu.
Although the financial details of the deal was not disclosed, Aikhomogbe in an interview with Newsmen from his base in Cairo, Egypt, stated that the NFF should use this platform to offset Rohr’s salaries and bonuses.
“It’s a big delight to know that the Nigeria Football Federation have signed a deal with Baba Ijebu and this will serve as an opportunity for them to use part of the money to pay Rohr’s salaries and bonuses.
“There is no better time to motivate him than now before Nigeria’s next 2022 World Cup qualifiers against the Central Africa Republic (CAR) on October,” he said.
Enyimba FC Goalkeeper, John Noble has stated that the players of the People’s Elephants will be key to the success of the newly appointed coach of the team, Finidi George.
Finidi, signed a two-year deal with Enyimba and oversaw his first full training session with the team on Thursday after a cameo appearance on Wednesday.
Speaking in a chat with Tidesports source, Noble gave his assessment of the coach in his first session under the manager and believes the former Super Eagles winger has what it takes to lead the team to the next level.
He added that the Enyimba players will be the ones to hand Finidi George his success at the club.
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