London Olympics: Toblow sure of Nigerian athletes

By Kate Obodo
Grass-roots athletics coach, Tobias Igwe a.k.a Toblow has said that Nigeria’s athletics contingent in the forthcoming  2012 London Olympics, would spring a lot of surprises despite their late preparation for the competition.
Toblow, as he is fondly called, said the team may have prepared for only a few months to the  competition but expressed  confidence in the  team, especially the female relay team, making a positive impact even  as he hailed the President of the  Athletics Federation,AFN, Chief Solomon Ogba for his tireless effort to lift the game.

THE AMBASSADORS . . . A cross section of the athletes at the send forth ceremony held in Lagos in honour of the Team Nigeria Athletes to the 2012 London Olympics. Photo: Sylva Eleanya

“First and foremost, I want to thank our tireless AFN President Solomon Ogba for his efforts so far in the sport. I appreciate him for making athletics what it is presently,” Toblow  said in Lagos on his  way to the  World Junior  Athletics Championship in Spain.
Continuing he said, “Although, our preparation for  the Olympics isn’t  fantastic but I’m confident that the athletes we have  would  make a mark in some of the  events. We  won’t be a  total failure in the competition. Whether we win a  gold, silver or bronze, it is welcome because of the late release of funds for preparation.
“Most importantly, the fact remains that  we are African champions presently. I think what the athletes need is our(Nigerians) fervent prayers for them to succeed. He added that, “anything can happen as we have strong relay teams, Long Jump Women and Sprint Women. Blessing Okagbare is one of the athletes that  I have confidence in to  do well both in the Long Jump and the 100m. I believe she would be a force to be reckoned with in the 100m.”
He said that the series of competitions organised so far have helped the athletes and  made them better in their performances.