Adelabu, Onovwotafe worried by growing trend of marathon races in Nigeria

Marathon. Photo credit: The Nation

Former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu, is worried over the growing number of marathon races in the country.

“We are in a country, where no one accounts for anything, and my major concern about this growing number of marathon races in Nigeria is for the innocent athletes, who will be subjected to rigorous training. They have no future advantage in this sport,” Adelabu, a sport scientist, told The Guardian, yesterday.

Adelabu said that even though marathon races will open up competition for more athletes’ participation, there are more negative sides to it, particularly for a nation like Nigeria that has its strength in the short sprints (100m, 200m, the jumps and relays).

“The question we should ask those turning the country into a marathon organising nation is, whether we have the capacity to provide the necessary performance factors at our disposal to produce competent athletes.

“You know that, generally, we think it is enough for us to participate or put up appearances in sports competitions and no one will question our motives. The government does not even understand the role of sports in national development,” Adelabu, who played club football with the IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, stated.

Also speaking yesterday, proprietor of Cable Sports Academy, Coach Edwin Onovwotafe, said that it is time government stopped the growing number of marathon races in Nigeria.

“Sincerely speaking, marathon races are not Nigeria’s area of strength, and I feel those organising it in our country are only providing the funds for the Kenyans, Ethiopians and Ugandans to prepare themselves for major championships like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and African Games, whereas, our area of strength  (short