Sports
4th Access Bank Lagos Marathon: Nesiama Named Security Consultant
A retired Navy Commodore, Omatseye Nesiama has been appointed to oversee the security affairs of the 4th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon scheduled for February 2.
Nesiama, who headed the security committee for the first and second editions of the 42km race, told newsmen yesterday in Lagos that he would put his expertise in security to ensure quality services.
Nesiama, who was visibly absent at the third edition said that he was back to run with the templates developed for the first and second editions.
“I could not take part in the third edition because I was engaged in some other critical ventures.
“But, I am back to run with the template developed for the first two editions that brought all relevant security stakeholders on the same page,” he said.
Tidesports reports that the first and second editions in the area of security were adjudged to have met international standard.
No fewer than 5,000 marathoners from about 45 countries have registered for the 2019 race.
Nesiama, who headed the security committee for the 2018 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Championships held in Asaba, said that security for the marathon would be top-notched.
He specifically appreciated the Lagos State Police Commissioner who gave him good cooperation in the first two editions.
As part of preparation toward organising a hitch-free competition, Nesiama said that a crucial meeting with heads of security agencies in the state has been fixed for January 16.
“There will be a crucial meeting on Wednesday in order to fine-tune strategies for protecting participants in the event,” he said.
Nesiama is a renowned security expert for major sports events and has managed the security of all Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s competitions from 2009 to 2017.
He was a one-time Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence and a Counter Terrorism fellow of the George C Marshall Centre for Security Studies in Germany.
Apart from security, Nesiama is the only Nigerian certified and licensed International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Athletes Manager.
He is an IAAF Lecturer and a CAA International Technical Official. He is also a member of the CAA Technical and Competitions Commission.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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