Coach Solaja Ayodele can be said to be a man with the Midas touch as far as grooming of athletes from the grassroots en route to international acclaim and status even more so with the spectacular performance of Tobi Amusan at the just concluded 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, writes MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN and ALESHINLOYE OWOLABI.
Of all Coach Solaja Ayodele’ protégées, Tobi Amusan undoubtedly stands out following her earth-shaking success as curtain fell on the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon last Sunday.
At the iconic Hayfield Field’s track and field stadium located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, the 25-year-old Amusan was the cynosure of all eyes when she broke the 100m Hurdles World Record with a blistering 12:12 secs in the semi-finals en route to her Gold medal race with a sparkling wind assisted 12:06 secs.
Ayodele who laid the foundation stone of Amusan’s success , has shed light on the career of the 25-year-old Ogun State-born athlete, even as he revealed her grass to grace journey.
“I actually discovered Tobi Amusan at Our Lady Of Apostles Secondary School at Ijebu-Ode when she was in the Junior Secondary School (JSS),” Ayodele, fondly called Bukatiger told NationSport during the week. “I trained her to represent Ogun State in the school sports but while in the Senior Secondary School(SSS), her father stopped her in order to concentrate on her studies.
“ But she sometimes sneaked to training until she finally stopped while in the SSS2 ; but months after her WAEC/GCE, she resumed training early 2012 following several appeals to her dad through her mum
“I then took her and six other athletes from Ijebu-Ode to Uyo for three months for serious training. She and my other athletes represented Akwa Ibom State at Eko 2012 National Sports Festival and this began her journey to stardom.”
An excited Bukatiger continued as he reflected on Amusan’s superb showing in Oregon: “Of course, I am very surprised but in a beautiful way. I expected a medal; maybe gold but not a world record and this is magical to say the least.”
The affable Bukatiger noted the petite Amusan’s innate talents coupled with her desire to excel made her a precocious from the outset, adding he had little difficulties tinkering her in order to burn the tracks.
“ From the start, Tobi had desire for excellence and passion for athletics,” he further explained.“ She was one of my favorite athletes then such that when I am going for a competition as far as Abuja, I will take her along so that her training doesn’t suffer back home in Ijebu-Ode.
“ In fact, it wasn’t that difficult(for me to train her) because once her dad gave the go ahead, he supported her as much as possible in every way unlike other athletes that I had to sponsor from my pocket,” he added.
Incidentally, Tobi Amusan is not Bukatiger’s only discoveries: “I also discovered Agnes Osazuwa now Olatunji who ran in the 4x 100m semi-finals team to win bronze turned silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. I also discovered Onome Nathaniel, Samson Nathaniel and Ezekiel Nathaniel and both of them took part at the World Championships in Oregon.
”Ezekiel recently broke and set a new national record in the 400mh recently. He resumed at Baylor University USA, just last December.
“I have also produced so many athletes especially in the junior category such as long jumper Babajide Okulaja, shot putter Ndubuisi Joseph, sprinter Rotimi Adebayo and others who have represented the country at one time or the other.
“ There is also Gbenga Bakare who was second in the 400m hurdles men’s finals at the just concluded National Trials in Benin.
“ There is also Ndubuisi Joseph who is now into power lifting in the US while Samson Nathaniel is currently one of the fastest quartermilers in the country.”
Meanwhile, Bukatiger has canvassed for more governmental and corporate support and finance towards the development of sports , adding track and field is yet to get the commensurate attention over the years.
“We can say that athletics is about the second most popular sport in Nigeria but it does not receive the necessary support and attention it deserves especially as it relates to financing it’s program from government,” he argued. “ It is important that the private sector should be more involved in athletics as it is done in other countries.
“The government should make it attractive for their participation and government should have minimum influence in sports matters.
“Also there should be synergy between the ministry of sports and that of education in the three tiers of government especially at the federal and state levels such that qualified coaches would be seconded to schools and sport councils.
“Also the government should provide enabling environment for sports growth by providing adequate facilities and equipment as well as good reward system and regular competitions at all levels covering the geo-political areas of the country.
“ And ultimately, we just need square pegs in square holes,” he added.
Story By
MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN and ALESHINLOYE OWOLABI