AFN President Okowa mourns late Kalkaba, CAA President
By Uzor Odigbo
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has joined athletics family across Africa and the world to mourn the passing of the President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, who passed away on Wednesday, at the age of 75 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Okowa, who is serving as one of the CAA Vice-Presidents and President of the CAA Region II (West Africa), said he received the news with great shock and described late Kalkaba as a symbol of athletics in Africa.
The AFN President said working with late Kalkaba for many years, was a true learning experience, stating that he carried out his role with passion and for the growth of athletics in Africa.
Okowa described Kalkaba as a great athlete in his competing years for his country Cameroon and that he brought those great values of team work and excellence to African athletics as an administrator.
According to him, this is indeed a great loss to African athletics and the global sports.
“He was not just an administrator, he was an active sport man in his younger days. Under him, we have witnessed the rise in African athletics. From Nigeria, to Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and the rest, our athletes are dominating the track and field events on the world stage. Africa is now hosting global events. That was the man, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum. He was a great patriot”, Okowa stated.
Okowa, condoled with his immediate family, CAA member-countries, the people and government of Cameroon, over the loss.
