By Olayemi Esan
The Defence Headquarters has commended the Nigerian Army Athletes for winning the 42 Kilometres Marathon race at the Armed Forces Inter Service Competition which commenced today 12, September, 2021 in Abuja.
The acting Director of Sport, Defence Headquarters, Cmdr Patrick Iyekwe commended the athletes for their 'beyond average' performance.
The Nigerian Army emerged champions in individual male and female as well as the team categories which began in Deidei, Zuba and ended at the Aguiyi Ironsi Sports Complex in Asokoro, Abuja.
In the male category, Private Okot Friday of the Nigerian Army clinched the first position in 1:52:1second, while Privates Nuhu Mohammed and Husamatus, also of the Nigerian Army won the second and third position with 1hour, 52minutes, 17seconds and 1hour, 52minutes, 40seconds respectively.
Private Badmus Mutiyat also of the Nigerian Army won the first position in the female category in 2hours, 21minutes, 11seconds, while Privates Inah Catherine and Adewale Hannah came 2nd and 3rd positions in 2hours, 50minutes and 2hours, 37munites respectively.
The acting Director of Sport noted, that with more training the athletes would be able to improve on their performance at the Sahel Military Game.
Cdre Iyekwe said out of the 60 athletes that took part in the marathon championship, the first 20 best athletes would be selected and camped for about 3 weeks in preparation for the Sahel Military Games.
He noted that the Inter-Service Competition would also witness the selection of players who will represent the Armed Forces in the game of football and golf.
Iyekwe said the objective of the competition is to afford the Armed Forces the opportunity to interact with each other under the cover of sports and to sustain the relationship that have been enjoyed over the years to consolidate it in the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship.
"The feedback I have received from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) officials is that the participants are all tested and proven capable. They are all censored and they performed very we above average," he noted.
While the Nigeria Army emerged first positions in the male and female team categories, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy came second and third in male and female categories.
Speaking at the event, President, Organization of Military Sport in Africa (OSMA), Brig. Gen. Maikano Abdullahi disclosed that 12 African countries, including Nigeria have registered for the all important military sporting events tagged “Peace and Solidarity.”
Abduallahi, who doubles as the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Vice President, added that sport is part and parcel of non-kinetic operations used by armed forces in conflict resolutions.
Brig. Gen. Abdullahi while commenting on the level of preparedness by the armed forces in hosting the games, noted that the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Lucky Irabor who is also the Grand Patron of OSMA and the Service Chiefs as well as relevant stakeholders have thrown their weights towards hosting the first ever Sahel Military Games in Nigeria.
Today's competition which comprises of marathon race, football and golf is to select sport men and women that will represent Nigeria in the Sahel Military Games scheduled for 9 to 17 October 2021.
