Glasgow 2014: Federal Government to honour deserving Stars

Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, has assured athletes that excelled at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games of President Goodluck Jonathan’s interest in their welfare, saying that the Federal Government would roll out the red carpet to honour the deserving stars of the games.
  The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games ended Sunday with Team Nigeria finishing in the eighth position with 36 medals, comprising 11 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze.
  The athletes have been wondering if the president would accord them the same respect he bestows on footballers after every international competition, an apprehension the minister diffused yesterday.
  However, Danagogo told them that ‘’you have represented our country and Africa well and I am very positive that President Goodluck Jonathan will be well pleased to receive the athletes with more rewards and honour for all the medalists.
  “We have paid the athletes their allowances and winning bonuses but that is not all. That is only from the point of the sports ministry. It is common knowledge that Mr. President loves sports and has established a tradition of rewarding and honouring athletes that bring glory to Nigeria.
  “Not only for the Commonwealth medalists. As a matter of fact, Mr. President has asked after the handball team and other national teams that won laurels in various major international competitions during the year. So, we are re-submitting a memo to this effect, proposing an event for the president to receive and honour them,” the minister said..
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s golden girl of the tracks, Blessing Okagbare, has been picked to lead the country’s quest for more laurels in Marrakesh, Morocco, venue of the African Athletics Championships, which begins on August 10 and ends August 14.
 Okagbare, winner of sprint double (100m and 200m) and a silver medal in the 4x100m, will in Morocco compete in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m.
  Also listed for the for the 100m, 200 and the 4x100m women in Marrakesh are Gloria Asumnu, Lauretta Uzoh, Deborah Odeyemi, Justina Sule and Weyinmi Lindsay.
  Listed for 400m and 4x400m are Folashade Abugan, Omolara Omotsoho, Patience Okon, Ada Benjamin, and Funke Oladoye.
 Nichole Denby will compete in the 100m hurdles, while Amaka Ogoegbunam and Kemi Francis are listed for the 400m hurdles.
  Abiye David will run the 800m, Ese Brume and Amadi Chinazom will do the long jump, while Blessing Ibrahim will do the triple jump.
 For throws, Queen Obisesan Hammer, and Chinwe Okoro will compete for medals in discuss and shot-put.
  Mark Jelks, Mozavous Edwards, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Obinna Metu, Divine Oduduru and Seye Ogunlewe will compete in the men’s 100, 200m and 4x100m.
  Robert Simmons, Orukpe Eroyakan, Akerele Omezia, Noah Akwu and Isah Salihu are listed for the 400m and the 4x400m.
  The trio of Tyron Akins, Alex Al-Ameen, and Martins Ogieriakhi will compete in the 110 hurdles, while Amaechi Morton and Miles Ukaoma will compete in the 400m hurdles.
  Other athletes listed are Samson Idiata and Hammed Suleiman in the long jump, Tosin Oke and Olumide Olamigoke in the triple jump, Stephen Mozia and Augustne Nwoye in shot put.
  Coaches for the team are Gabriel Okon, Yussuf Alli, Gabriel Opuana, Gad Onumaegbu, Solomon Aliu, Saheed Akinpelu and Daniel Etsebiminor.