It was a fun filled Valentine’s day celebration for Nigeria’s junior athletes in their Sagamu, Ogun State camp for the Confederation of African Athletics junior championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next month as the Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Tammy Danagogo, once again demonstrated that his purview goes beyond football when he took time off his busy schedule to share his Lovers Day programme with the junior athletes.
Accompanied by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria President, Chief Solomon Ogba, and the NSC Lagos Liaison boss, Francis Gbiri, the Minister said he was in Sagamu where the team is preparing, to assure them that the drive to discover new stars in athletics is on his mind and there was nothing anybody will do to deter him and the vision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Danagogo added that he was sure the road to discover new athletes in the mould of Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo, Innocent Egbunike, the Ezinwa brothers, sprint sensation and African champion Blessing Okagbare was on and will be anchored by the AFN.
He thereafter cut the Valentine cake with all the athletes in tow.
Also in attendance were Seigh Porbeni, Coaches Superintendent, and Ogunkoya-Omotayo, who serves as Camp Commandant for the team that is billed to battle for honours in the African Junior Championship that runs from March 4 to 8 in Addis Ababa.
Ogba, speaking earlier, praised the Minister for finding out time from his busy schedule to be with the athletes on Valentine day.
He assured Danagogo that with his leadership, the athletes will not disappoint in the Addis Ababa tourney.
Team Captain, Kelechi Nwanaga, who spoke on behalf of the team, promised that she and her team were ready to make the nation proud at the championship.
Nwanaga said with the visit of the Minister, which she described as a big morale booster, the athletes now owe the country a service to deliver at the continental juniors.