“I suffered as an athlete and based on my sad experience, I vowed I won’t let any talented athlete suffer the way I suffered,”Olokorede said
By Uzor Odigbo
It appears like something out of the blues for a young teenage boy to square up in an event that paraded a National Champion and still place second.
Olukorede Samuel is a 19-year old secondary school graduate has chosen to major in Shot Put which he showcased on Friday for the first time at a bigger athletics event In Benin, Edo State.
The World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials pitched Olukorede Samuel alongside US based National record holder (21:20m) Chukwuebuka Enekwechi who went further to establish a new season’s best at the Trials in Edo State.
In his reactions after placing a distant second in the Shot Put event with 14:5m throw, the young thrower said, “Chukwuebuka gave me hope and I want to beat the best in my Career in future.”
Undunted, the young Olukorede didn’t show any fright in matching up with tough competition Enekwechi provided.
His final throw was 14: 5m in Shot Put, an event he started a few Months ago.
“I love carrying Iron and weightlifting was my hobby before I was introduced to Shot Put by a lady named Agnes Osazuwa-Olatunji and his coach Johnson.”
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He noted that having competed with the National champion, his confidence level is high to do more.
“I’m going to work harder in the gym. In the past I used to lift 100kg, now I’m currently lifting above 140kg in the gym.”
Olukorede’s benefactor, Raphael Ihunaegbo, former athlete, a board member of Enugu State Athletics Association, based in Canada told TheNicheng.com Newspapers online that Olukorede is a Talent still developing.
At his young age, he has prospects of being a Big Star in ‘Shot Put’ in future’
“I’m waiting for him to throw 16m and I will move him to US where he can develop properly, Ihunaegbo assured.
“Facilities to train these young stars are not available here and one can’t risk such Talent to rotten like tomatoes here in Nigeria, that’s why plans have been made for some athletes in my care to train abroad”
After his 14:5m achievement in Benin, Olukorede lamented the poor quality of facilities in Nigeria and promised to do more should improved facilities be made available for him anywhere.
“I will like to improve in my event, it’s like I will have more chances of improving my sport abroad or here in Nigeria if throws facilities with a chance of furthering my Education is available.?
On his experience competing with Enekwechi and others, “It was a pleasure and surprise mixed together. I was just wondering and watching him do his thing in amazement. in that atmosphere, I went for pictures with him after the event.
“Like I said, it was a moral boosting stuff for me. I will beat him one day”.
On what he would do after the competition, Olukorede said, he would continue to train and his throw distance will improve for a place in any of the junior Competitions on the calendar.
Having said this, the Vic Chairman, Christy Ihunaegbo Foundation Raphael Ihunaegbo also pointed out that Olukorede would combine education with sports,
” I’m a stickler to sports and Education mix. He would even be on Scholarship, I’m waiting for him to hit the 16m mark in shot put.”
Ihunaegbo who said he had assisted many athletes in his capacity as former Athlete having realised how difficult it was for him in his active days.
” I suffered as an athlete and based on my Sad experiences, I vowed I won’t let any talented athlete suffer.
“I’m doing all this along with my wife, Christy Ihunaegbo the Chairman and whom the club was named after”.
Ihunaegbo alluded that he has about 12 athletes in his club with different nationalities, insisting that as detribalised Nigerian, any talented Nigerian is welcome.
The former quarter miler avaared that sports, especially athletics has improved better now than in his active days.
He regretted that more improvement are still needed in Nigerian sports especially in the states.
“Facilities are inadequate for athletes to horn their career properly in the country.
The Vic Chairman of Southeast Athletes Foundation also need the private sector to assist in the provision of sports facilities for athletes in the country as government appears unwilling to shoulder sports responsibilities anymore.
The light skinned athletics prodigy forecasts a Brighter further for sports in Nigeria following abundance of talents.
Ihunaegbo has plans to give away many sporting kits comprising Spike shoes and T-shirt to athletes before leaving for Canada which he said, has become his attitude.
On how he sources funds to meet his club’s demands.
He said, My Wife and I are working hard. It has not been easy to meet all the demands for immediate family, extended family, friends etc., but what you set your mind on, especially Good things, God makes a away” he said.