Edet, Alozie, Osheku Deserve Sydney 2000 Reward Too
about 23 hours ago
Ex-Nigerian athletes hail Jonathan,want justice
Former Nigerian track and field internationals have cried foul over the exclusion of the trio of coaches Armelia Edet and Tony Osheku as well as sprint hurdler,Glory Alozie from the cash reward announced yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan for the Sydney 2000 Olympics gold-winning relay team and their coaches.
President Jonathan announced a cash reward of N5m each to the six members of the relay team whose silver-winning feat was upgraded to gold by the International Olympic Committee following the doping violation of a member of the USA team, Anthonio Pettigrew.The coaches were also rewarded with N7m each.
Some ex-internationals have kicked against the listing of only coaches Innocent Egbunike and Solomon Abari as beneficiaries, insisting that coaches Edet and Osheku should have been included. They also argued Alozie,who won an individual medal,a silver while still mourning the death of her fiancee,Hyginus Anugo barely days before should have been rewarded too.
Heptathlete,Patience Itanyi,who was a member of Nigeria’s contingent to the Games insists the trio deserve President Jonathan’s largesse too.
‘Aunty Armelia (coach Edet) was the head coach why Tony (Osheku) was part of the relay teams coaches to the games.They should also be rewarded.Both were duly accredited and both contributed to the success of the team.It is unbelievable that the woman who dished out instructions to the coaches would be ignored wnen it came to appreciating the team.Gloria’s achievement is even better valued technically than that of the relay team because it is an individual medal.It was her own effort.In terms of ranking by the IAAF,she would get a big ranking while the relay team will ge almost nothing because it was a collective effort’’,said a bitter Itanyi who appealed to President Jonathan to right the wrongs.
Sprint hurdler,Moses Oyiki shared in Itanyi’s sentiments and thanked President Jonathan for rewarding the team.
‘The monetary gift by the Federal Government is commendable.It is not too much.These are the real heroes of our country.The reward would spur budding sportsmen and women to achieve greater feats for our country’,he said but expressed surprise at the exclusion of the trio.
‘Why is coach Armelia not included in the windfall!/ This smacks of sour grapes.Alozie rose from the tragedy of losing her fiance to make Nigeria proud by winning the 100m hurdles silver.Although she thereafter switched allegiance to Spain,she still remains a Nigerian and the medal still counts as ours’,argued Oyiki,himself an Olympian. ---------------------------- complete sports
Former Nigerian track and field internationals have cried foul over the exclusion of the trio of coaches Armelia Edet and Tony Osheku as well as sprint hurdler,Glory Alozie from the cash reward announced yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan for the Sydney 2000 Olympics gold-winning relay team and their coaches.
President Jonathan announced a cash reward of N5m each to the six members of the relay team whose silver-winning feat was upgraded to gold by the International Olympic Committee following the doping violation of a member of the USA team, Anthonio Pettigrew.The coaches were also rewarded with N7m each.
Some ex-internationals have kicked against the listing of only coaches Innocent Egbunike and Solomon Abari as beneficiaries, insisting that coaches Edet and Osheku should have been included. They also argued Alozie,who won an individual medal,a silver while still mourning the death of her fiancee,Hyginus Anugo barely days before should have been rewarded too.
Heptathlete,Patience Itanyi,who was a member of Nigeria’s contingent to the Games insists the trio deserve President Jonathan’s largesse too.
‘Aunty Armelia (coach Edet) was the head coach why Tony (Osheku) was part of the relay teams coaches to the games.They should also be rewarded.Both were duly accredited and both contributed to the success of the team.It is unbelievable that the woman who dished out instructions to the coaches would be ignored wnen it came to appreciating the team.Gloria’s achievement is even better valued technically than that of the relay team because it is an individual medal.It was her own effort.In terms of ranking by the IAAF,she would get a big ranking while the relay team will ge almost nothing because it was a collective effort’’,said a bitter Itanyi who appealed to President Jonathan to right the wrongs.
Sprint hurdler,Moses Oyiki shared in Itanyi’s sentiments and thanked President Jonathan for rewarding the team.
‘The monetary gift by the Federal Government is commendable.It is not too much.These are the real heroes of our country.The reward would spur budding sportsmen and women to achieve greater feats for our country’,he said but expressed surprise at the exclusion of the trio.
‘Why is coach Armelia not included in the windfall!/ This smacks of sour grapes.Alozie rose from the tragedy of losing her fiance to make Nigeria proud by winning the 100m hurdles silver.Although she thereafter switched allegiance to Spain,she still remains a Nigerian and the medal still counts as ours’,argued Oyiki,himself an Olympian. ---------------------------- complete sports
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