Uduak Ekah set to abandon Nigeria, alleges threat

"When I heard about the camp I went to Chief Patrick Ekeji, the Director of Sports and  told him that I have been in Abuja camping and training with Mr Gabriel Okon, (former national 200m champion) since November and that right now I’m in the middle of my training programme and cannot abandon it for the camp, because it will be unprofessional.

"I explained to the DOS to allow me join the camp after I’ve finished my training programme with Okon, who also went ahead to explain things to him, but he refused to listen. Meanwhile, the camp coach (Samuel Akinyemi) was not one I believed in so it would be extremely difficult for me to do well in the circumstances. I just don't have confidence in a coach who had just one athlete to himself in Cuba to train for the last All Africa Games and yet, the girl crashed out in the first round of the Games 200M event.

"So now how do they want such a coach to train me? Despite, the foregoing, I still went to the camp beating their deadline on a Friday so that they will not say I’m disobedient. By Saturday I had no training schedule so I went to church, but on my return there was a fresh order that I and Doris (Jacob, 400M and 4 X 400M) should not be given food anymore. I still didn’t say anything and by Monday the team went to training without informing Doris and I; but we went to track that same day on our own.

"I used my training programme drawn out by Okon. The following day, Tuesday they left without telling us but we had asked other athletes when they will train and they told us in the morning so we joined them that morning. I warmed up and afterwards went to tell the coach that I have gym now but he shouted at me insisting that if I must be in camp then I must follow his own programme.

"I walked away but later that evening, the president (of Athletics Federation of Nigeria - Dan Ngerem) came and told them that both Doris and I should leave the camp by the following morning. We were also denied food that evening. And since we both didn’t have money to eat; in fact I was left with only 50 naira and I used it to take a bus ride to Kubwa (about 300km from Abuja stadium) that night around 10PM.

"I was putting up  in a family friend’s house and  really felt bad that day that I-Uduak Ekah-could- be-treated-like-a-shit after all the years of service I have put in for this country. I cried that night and my heart was harden that night, but I’m keeping my plans to myself.

"They now say my coach did not attend a coaching course, but they forgot that people like Colin Jackson and Linford Christie, of Great Britain and off course my ex-Spanish coach was a barber, then a politician, when he met Glory Alozie and I he decided to train us. And Glory has gone ahead to win so many laurels. During that period also, I ran the fastest World junior time in 60M..

"I can tell you now that Okon has really trained me and Doris. I have never trained like this before, if you see me now you will understand why I sacrificed the World Indoors just to train and be in shape for the Olympics. I am not only running now, but "flying." Wait till I run my first race then you’d understand what I’m talking about. I’m not only training for the Games, I want to be among the first five in the World and I believe it is possible right now.

"I don't think they know what they are doing They say they love this country, but they are only interested in the wealth of this country. Does it mean that athletes don't have rights any more in Nigeria? Athletics is an individual sport. No World class athlete will change a coach just for the sake of change. A coach who trains you is a father, as mush as a trainer. He is someone who knows when you feel good, when you are tired and changes the programme to suit you. I am not the only one not in the camp, there are others with their personal trainers. They will not leave their coaches now for a camp, or even after the trials.

"They keep threatening ban! ban!! ban!!! all the time. Well, I guess its time to leave for greener pastures since they don't care about us here (Nigeria). If they don’t want us, I cannot keep running for Nigeria with so much stress and threats from people who should know better. Talking from my heart, I am really tired of all these and feel sick about everything.

"Even the Minister (of Sports) will not listen to the athletes before going ahead to pass judgement. It is not fair o-o-o-o-o-o! (sic). They should not do what they will later regret and Nigerians will not be happy with them o-o-o-o-o-o! (sic) Well I am a happy person right now and will hold my peace which the Lord has given to me.

"I know where I belong now. I am a winner and belongs to the Winners Family where we don't lose. Our God fights for us and he has lifted me up and no one can bring me down. I am stronger than last year when I easily get panicked. But now I am standing on the "Rock." I am on Mount Zion that can never be moved; that is why I have spoken to no one but you.

"I hold my peace. So that is my story! Please be the good friend you have always being. Don't add, don't remove anything if you feel you want to publish it.

"Take care and all the best.

"Bless you

NOTE: Miss Ekah sent this to the nigeriasports.com Track & Field Writer through E-Mail and is largely unedited. There are minor editing for clarity only. The coach Akinyemi would not speak to journalist when he was approached in Abuja during the National Sports Festival. The president of AFN was not in Nigeria when this piece was posted, but we will get him to speak when he returns.

By Joe van Miebi