Kefaf, Aminat To Represent Nigeria At We Run, Joborg.

Wilhams Kefaf of Plateau State and Olowora Amin at of Lagos State have emerged the champions of the ten kilometre race tagged We Run, Lagos,which ended today at the mainbowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium,Surulere.

"My brother called me on Friday morning that he had registered me for a race inLagos State.I told him I cannot make it because he will travel to Cross River State for the Obudu Mountain Race on Wednesday to represent the country at the event."

"He forced to cimne to Lagos and also to see the competition as a training for the Obudu Mountain Race.Just on Friday,I arrived Lagos.Before the race, I was not happy even when I was running, because my car was stolen on today(Saturday). When I was running, I was thinking over the car theft"he said.
"Am not satisfied with the time he recorded because, am not able to run 28 or 29 minutes.The race is good.Thanked Nike Nigeria, for sponsoring the race.I want AFN to help the nation's long distance athletes to compete in long distance races.Nigerian athletes are running 14 minutes while Kenyans are running 12 minutes.Appeal to AFN,to camp them for six months in Plateau State."

"Am very happy to win the race.Have trained hard towards the competition. I never thought that I will be among the first best 22 athletes".I am preparing for the next Saturday marathon race in Lagos State and this tournament will serve as good ground to excel."

The race flagged off by the Lagos State Commissioner for sports, Wahid Enitan Oshodi,today(Saturday) at Onikan,saw Kefaf, a police officer,winning the race in the male category by 30 minutes,41seconds while Olowora Amin at who won three Gold medals in long distance races t the last National Sports Festival,tagged Eko 2012 Games won the race with a time of 34 Minutes'54 seconds.

For this,the duo of Kefaf and Amin at will represent Nigeria at the 2014 We Run' Jorborg as they are also entitled to Nike products and a giant refrigerator each.

Other top winners in the race that attracted over one thousand participants from different walks of life, saw Lawrence Osheku,who ran 30 minutes,48 seconds,clinching the second position while Adeyemi Olaoluwa,who ran 30 minutes, 51 Seconds,in the male cadre.

Pereira Oluwabukola,settled for the second position (37 minutes,15 seconds)as Doris Wudus,ran a time of (38 minutes, 23 seconds) to become the second runners up.

In an interview with sports journalists, Kefaf,who arrived Lagos State on Friday night in readiness for the race,said he was not satisfied with the time(30 minutes,41 seconds) he recorded at the one day race because he had set his mind on finishing the race either 28 or 29 minutes,adding that the theft of his car on the day of the race really distablise him from achieving his set objective.

Kefaf,who will be competing at this year's Obudu Mountain Race,in Cross River State,commended the Lagos State Government as well as Nike Nigeria for creating opportunity for the country's marathon athletes to showcase their talents,adding that the Nigeria Athletic Federation,AFN,should endeavor to pave the way for them t feature in regular competitions so as to compete against the Kenyans who are rated among the world best marathon runners.

He said camping them for a period of five to six months intensive training programmes in Plateau State to boost their morale and also encourage them to perform beyond expectations at international meets.

An elated Amin at,who had trained hard to win the race,said the feat would enable her to perform better at the forthcoming 10 kilometre race.

The national sports festival gold medalist,said her make counterparts whom she ran along with,inspired her to increase her pace as she never believed she could finish the race with 34.56 seconds.

The Commissioner for Sports,Wahid Enitan Oshodi,said hosting the race which had been staged in 26 countries,explained the the importance of Lagos State in hosting competition of such magnitude based on the quality of sports facilities, stressing that the event would enhance their athletes to be in good shape ahead of any competition.

"We run,Lagos,is a major event worldwide.They have done in 15 major cities in the world.It tells you the importance of the big race as Lagos have similar developmental programme.The programme will give Lagosian fit and enable their wards to be in good shape." He said"

"The most important thing for us.This are the kind of programme we need to be doing to fish out talents.Lagos have infrastructure to host competitions as plans are in top gear to revive the Lagos Marathon"

Oshodi,whose ministry in conjunction with Glaxosmithline will be organising another similar event,said the race was part of their developmental sports programme to discover and nurture athletes to stardom,adding that plans are in top gear to revived the Lagos marathon.

To Marketing Communication managerof Nike Nigeria,Segun Ogunleye,the race is to Connect and inspire the marathon runners across the country, stressing that We Run, Lagos,has not only communicate the energy of Lagos State but it has communicate tghe iconic landscape of the State and beautiful hard work of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

"The event is basically to connect and inspire runners across Nigeria.It is also about communicating the energy of a particular city,unique energy of that city"We Run, Lagoshave been able to communicate the beauty of the state,energy and the youths.

He assured that the duo of Kefaf and Amin at would be given necessary technical support to perform better at the We Run, JoborG,2014.