SOUTH AFRICAN ATHLETES DETHRONES NIGERIAN ATHLETES

South African athletes yesterday finished on high as they swept the medals table of the African Championships in Durban raking 16 gold medals. Kenya followed up with nine gold medals, while Nigeria could only rake in four gold medals to place a distant third on the log. This performance by  Team Nigeria left a sour taste in the mouth of athletics enthusiasts who came to the conclusion that something drastic must be done to reposition Nigeria in the sport. “It is really sad that we have slipped further down. But we have a lot of talents. I pray that GOD will really help us. “I really pity the poor athletes because they’re the people suffering it,” African 100m hurdles record holder Glory Alozie stated. Also hurdles coach Solomon Aliu stated that there should be a stakeholders meet to address issues affecting Nigerian athletics. “There must be a way out of this mess.” In yesterday’s concluding events, Nigerian athletes settled for silver. In the women 400m hurdles Tameka Jameson was beaten to the second place by Kenya’s Maureen Jelegat with a 56.1 seconds run, Jameson posted 57.2 seconds, Doreen Amata was outclassed by Seychelles’ Lissa Labiche who leapt 1.85m in the women high jump. Amata jumped 1.82m. Cameroon’s Sally Auriol with 17.64m denied Nigerian duo Nwanneka Okwelogu and Chioma Onyekwere who threw 17.07m and 15.71m respectively.