I am fulfilled seeing MoC athletes representing Nigeria – Founder

Bambo Akani, the founder of Making of Champions, an athletics consulting firm and club, says he feels fulfilled that some of his athletes were already winning medals and making history, continentally and internationally.
Akani was reacting to Joy Udo-Gabriel’s feat of a bronze medal in the 100m and a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay in the 2018 Confederation of African Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the essence of establishing the firm in 2012, and his dream of nurturing talents to represent the country were gradually being fulfilled.
Akani said: “I feel especially pleased and proud of Udo-Gabriel’s exploits at her 1st African Senior Championships, winning the 100m Bronze and 4x100m relay Gold all at the age of 19.
“These are the kind of possibilities that we had in mind for young Nigerian athletes when we inaugurated the MoC Track Club three years ago.
“It’s amazing that in that time, she has gone from the fastest schoolgirl in Lagos to  become an integral part of Nigeria’s 4x100m relay Senior Team that will now also represent Africa in the 4x100m event at the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava.”
Akani said he was elated to see that athletes discovered by MoC were representing Nigeria and doing the country proud.
He said: “Joy Udo-Gabriel has now won six medals for Nigeria in just three competitions: 4x100m Bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the 100m, and the 200m Gold.
“And the 4x100m Silver at the West African U-20 Championships in Ghana and now the 100m Bronze, and the 4x100m Gold at the African Senior Championships in Asaba.
“She isn’t the only MoC athlete coming up, Jeremiah Jakpa also represented Nigeria for the first time in the men’s 200m in Asaba.
“And there is a long list of other MoC athletes knocking on the doors of the Senior, Junior (U-20) and Youth (U-18) National Teams.”
Akani said that a lot of people thought that the idea was going to go down the drain but with these achievements, we have proved them wrong.
He said: “A lot of people thought that it is impossible to combine Athletics and Education in Nigeria, but we’re beginning to prove them wrong.
“Udo-Gabriel is testament to that; she is a first year student at the University of Lagos, and in the time she’s been enrolled at the university, she has already won 6 medals for Nigeria.
“Imagine what that medal count for the nation could be by the time she graduates in a few years. It’s important to note that going abroad does not improve an athlete.
“It is the know-how of a stellar coach and the support of a good scholarship programme that makes all the difference.
“We have provided these things in Nigeria, with the likes of Olympic medallist Deji Aliu, who is Joy’s coach and the MoC’s Head Coach in Lagos, and Joy’s scholarship sponsor, the ARCO Group.”
Akani said that he hoped that more sponsors would come in to support MoC athletes like Joy and Jerry, and also more scholarships for other athletes at the MoC Track Club.
He added: “We’re happy to be developing athletes for the glory of Nigeria and we hope to see them represent our great nation at the 2020 Olympics and beyond.”