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Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode - Sports (2) - Nairaland

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Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by 2rucool(m): 8:48pm On Dec 01, 2015
If our sports administrators failed to take care of our talents other countries will help them do it. Such cases are numerous and the administrators are less concerned as long as they make their money.

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Nobody: 8:49pm On Dec 01, 2015
Why would anybody want to compete for the zoological republic?
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by olempe(m): 8:49pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry
True... for ur mind grin grin

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Hardeybohwarley(m): 8:50pm On Dec 01, 2015
Good for you bro...Yoruba's has been producing good ambassador of Nja since 18 century.... Sole..Fela...and others...Rival for usain bolt incoming
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Awwal1st(m): 8:50pm On Dec 01, 2015
.j
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by pxdaniel(m): 8:51pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry

Guy, I hope u were sleeping or drunk wen u wrote dat shit up there cos I don't understand d f.ck u r talking abt

8 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by pus20: 8:53pm On Dec 01, 2015

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by pus20: 8:54pm On Dec 01, 2015
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by mayordj4real: 8:56pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry
Story for the gods

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by pus20: 9:01pm On Dec 01, 2015
[size=28pt]Nigeria is weeping, Usain Bolt time[/size]

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by DIVINE78: 9:01pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry
He will be more fulfilled than rusting away in Nigeria while those not as fast as him represent Nigeria that I can tell you.

5 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by DIVINE78: 9:03pm On Dec 01, 2015
imsuboi:
yoloba. **spits
Spit on your father's bald head.
Let's see the moderator that will ban me again after looking away for hours from the post I replied. cool

5 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by amanikondo: 9:04pm On Dec 01, 2015
What do you expect when you give under 17 20,000 Naira for winning World Cup.

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by kennycalls(m): 9:04pm On Dec 01, 2015
the level politics is undermining everything in Nigeria is alarming, like it is always said, "there are no ambitions in Nigeria only career" I kind of believe this.
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Sylverbox(m): 9:06pm On Dec 01, 2015
Ginaz:
Nigeria eh, I don dey tire o cryNigeria eh, I don dey tire o
the earlier the better oh!
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by vickbaze: 9:06pm On Dec 01, 2015
Mikel Laughs As Costa Throws Bib At Mourinho

The bad blood between Diego Costa and Jose Mourinho seems to have continued as the striker threw a bib at his manager in Chelsea

Costa was not named in Chelsea’s starting 11 and was left on the bench all through their goalless Premier League draw withTottenham yesterday.

After warming up, Costa was not called up to enter the game and he was not happy about it.

As he made his way to the bench, the striker pulled his bib and threw it backwards towards his coach, Mourinho.

Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel who was sitting behind Mourinho saw it all and laughed.

Mourinho who was focused on the game did not see the bib. When pressed on the incident after the game, Chelsea manager Mourinho said he didn’t expect Costa to be happy to be on the bench.

“I was not expecting a player to be on the bench jumping and singing… a top player on the bench is not happy. If he wants to hurt me, it’s not with a bib,” Mourinho said.

“I don’t like my subs to warm up. I just want them to be mentally ready to play for when we need them. There’s no issue between me and Diego, it was just a decision.”

source:http://www.vickbaze.com/2015/11/30/mikel-laughs-as-costa-throws-bib-at-mourinho/
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Ohluwakoded(m): 9:06pm On Dec 01, 2015
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Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Nobody: 9:07pm On Dec 01, 2015
Everything about Nigeria is fake fake fake fake fake fakefake even when tyou qualified without godmother or godfather like tinubu you re going no where, no wonder Richard of virgin Atlantic said Nigerian politicians are killed dream.

4 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Elparaiso(m): 9:14pm On Dec 01, 2015
imsuboi:
yoloba. **spits
With all your carryovers from IMSU you can spit and call Yoruba?

I swear you are your father's gravest mistake.

4 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by crownwealth68(m): 9:22pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry

What an ignorant statement

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by crownwealth68(m): 9:25pm On Dec 01, 2015
melodyirish:
Very soon they will be dumping nigeria for BIAFRA cool cool

Somalia will be preferable

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by crownwealth68(m): 9:27pm On Dec 01, 2015
melodyirish:
Very soon they will be dumping nigeria for BIAFRA cool cool

Somalia would be preferable
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by tourphland(m): 9:33pm On Dec 01, 2015
I was supposed to represent Nigeria at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, however due to some manoeuvres that I could not understand I was dropped from the team. Prior to that I had qualified to represent Nigeria at the All African Games in Algiers but some politicking ensured that I was dropped from the team despite making the trials. These acts were discouraging but I decided to keep on training and working hard because who knows, I could be favoured by one of the powers that be in the future. My dad was also a great source of encouragement because he always told me to be the best that I could be despite whatever challenges that came my way.

One day, I got a mail from Qatar asking if I was interested in coming to their country and I said yes but told them I had no funds to move. They told me to send my passport and I was given passage to Qatar. The rest as they say is history as I became a Nigerian-Qatari.

How was it for you transitioning into your new country?

It was not a hard thing to adjust when I got to Qatar. I try as much as possible to adapt to whatever new place in get to, immersing myself into the culture, that way, I am better focused for the task ahead.

Can you please give as a recap of how the season was for you?

My season went well. After the Asian Championships however I suffered injury that laid me up for a while. I was only able to return to training three weeks to the World Championships and that was why it seems I did not do as well in that event. I am.

Why Femi Ogunode Foundation?

I believe in giving back to people. While I was growing up I saw how we young athletes suffered to make headway in athletics. Nobody gave us a chance to showcase our talent. Last year, I thought within myself that it was time to give back to the society especially the young athletes as it seems that the body in charge of athletics here in Nigeria has better things to do than develop the sport at the grassroots level. So I decided that if I start this foundation, I will be helping athletics at the grassroots level.

What is your evaluation of the maiden edition?

I saw that many would be the future of Nigeria if programmes are organised to help them develop the potential they have. If they can keep them together and organise training camps for them, they will shine at the world stage.

What are the plans for the event?

The plan is to keep some of the best talents together and ready for competitions in the future. It is one thing to recognise talent, it is another thing to develop them. What our foundation will try to do is help nurture the talent we see.

What setbacks have you had and how were hey overcome?

I have a mentality that says if you want to succeed, you must face challenges head on and overcome them. This has been my policy and this has helped in such a way that instead of challenges being setbacks, they have become stepping stones to greater things because I do not give up.

What is your take on athletes that dumped Nigeria but are coming back to give back to the society?

I will advise that they follow their heart and do what they want to do. They should not listen to side talks because no matter what you do people will always talk. I, for one, do not listen to what people say because no matter what you do, you will be criticised. If that is then going to be the case is it not better you please your conscience?

If Nigeria fails to respect athletes and give them their due in terms of training, camps etc, they will find out more and more people switching allegiance [/quote] reason Nigeria will still be like this till eternity

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by MysticZeus: 9:36pm On Dec 01, 2015
Dem Need Cricketers? shocked grin
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by HillaryD(f): 9:37pm On Dec 01, 2015
proudly Nigeria,proudly Yoruba,proudly Ondo state and proudly Omo oka akoko.
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Jacko1(m): 9:39pm On Dec 01, 2015
Nigerian journalists asking irrelevant questions since time immemorial..... They lucky deir interviewee answers all
Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by Nobody: 9:39pm On Dec 01, 2015
robosky02:


The year 2015 has been quite eventful in athletics and one of the names that rang the bells in the course of the year was Femi Ogunode, an athlete of Nigerian origin who now competes for Qatar. Ogunode, now dubbed Asia’s fastest man, was also voted athlete of the year from the largest continent in the world.

However, not many people know that Ogunode has tried his hands on a couple of other sports before sticking with athletics. In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES’ Tunde Eludini, Ogunode tells his grass to grace story even as he sets high targets for himself at next year’s Olympic Games.

Can we meet you?

I am Femi Seun Ogunode, the fastest man in Asia.

Let us into your background.

First of all, I want to thank God, my family, my son and wife and I want to thank my friends and fans that support me. I did not just drop down from heaven to become the fastest man in Asia, but I started from somewhere, from Ondo state. I started as a footballer, then moved to boxing before I found my calling in athletics. Because of the politics of everything in Nigeria, I could not go far in football. I had no godfather and this in turn caused me not to get playing time, therefore opportunities to show my talent was really rare, I was a striker in those days. That discouraged me and I decided to try another sport.

What inspired you to pursue a career in football?

I had always had love for sports and my father was very encouraging. He told me, ‘Femi, you can be anything you want to be’ and he gave me his support when I decided I wanted to become a footballer. However I made no headway in that sport. A coach however saw me one day and advised me to pursue athletics as a career because I was a very fast runner in the time I was a striker then with nucleus Academy in Lagos, I also played with Pepsi Academy.

Give us more insight into your foray into boxing.

I got involved in boxing majorly because my father was a boxer in the army, and I decided to follow in his footsteps. I was involved in boxing for about a year but I could not endure it all. I also did not want my face to be damaged, so I decided to enter into athletics as I was earlier advised.

Shed more light as you made your first entry into athletics.

I got into athletics with the help of my uncle. His name is Segun. After I left Lagos, I went back to my home town, Oka Akoko. Segun then told me of an athletics coach who was in Akure and asked if I was interested in joining him. I readily accepted and that was how I started training with Coach Lawrence in Akure.

What was your parents’ reaction?

My parents were supportive and helped me pursue my dreams. Though they wanted all their children to pursue education, they knew from early on that I was more interested in sports. It was even my mum who helped me get my first spikes.

What gave you the conviction to remain in athletics?

The conviction to remain in athletics came in the third week I attended state trials then and I came in second and everyone wanted to know the newcomer who came to usurp the more experienced runners and that made me decide to try and give my best in athletics.

What was your first major victory as an athlete?

My first major victory was at the Obafemi Awolowo U18 Championship in Ibadan. After I won, I was like yeah now, we are getting somewhere.

Who is your driving force?

My dad. He was very supportive, always encouraging me to pursue my dreams. Though he died last year, I still hear his voice encouraging me and that has kept me going. Three of us are in sports and my younger brother is the record holder for 60 meters in Asia and the other one is involved in the decathlon also for Qatar.

How did you get into representing Qatar?

I was supposed to represent Nigeria at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, however due to some manoeuvres that I could not understand I was dropped from the team. Prior to that I had qualified to represent Nigeria at the All African Games in Algiers but some politicking ensured that I was dropped from the team despite making the trials. These acts were discouraging but I decided to keep on training and working hard because who knows, I could be favoured by one of the powers that be in the future. My dad was also a great source of encouragement because he always told me to be the best that I could be despite whatever challenges that came my way.

One day, I got a mail from Qatar asking if I was interested in coming to their country and I said yes but told them I had no funds to move. They told me to send my passport and I was given passage to Qatar. The rest as they say is history as I became a Nigerian-Qatari.

How was it for you transitioning into your new country?

It was not a hard thing to adjust when I got to Qatar. I try as much as possible to adapt to whatever new place in get to, immersing myself into the culture, that way, I am better focused for the task ahead.

Can you please give as a recap of how the season was for you?

My season went well. After the Asian Championships however I suffered injury that laid me up for a while. I was only able to return to training three weeks to the World Championships and that was why it seems I did not do as well in that event. I am.

Why Femi Ogunode Foundation?

I believe in giving back to people. While I was growing up I saw how we young athletes suffered to make headway in athletics. Nobody gave us a chance to showcase our talent. Last year, I thought within myself that it was time to give back to the society especially the young athletes as it seems that the body in charge of athletics here in Nigeria has better things to do than develop the sport at the grassroots level. So I decided that if I start this foundation, I will be helping athletics at the grassroots level.

What is your evaluation of the maiden edition?

I saw that many would be the future of Nigeria if programmes are organised to help them develop the potential they have. If they can keep them together and organise training camps for them, they will shine at the world stage.

What are the plans for the event?

The plan is to keep some of the best talents together and ready for competitions in the future. It is one thing to recognise talent, it is another thing to develop them. What our foundation will try to do is help nurture the talent we see.

What setbacks have you had and how were hey overcome?

I have a mentality that says if you want to succeed, you must face challenges head on and overcome them. This has been my policy and this has helped in such a way that instead of challenges being setbacks, they have become stepping stones to greater things because I do not give up.

What is your take on athletes that dumped Nigeria but are coming back to give back to the society?

I will advise that they follow their heart and do what they want to do. They should not listen to side talks because no matter what you do people will always talk. I, for one, do not listen to what people say because no matter what you do, you will be criticised. If that is then going to be the case is it not better you please your conscience?

If Nigeria fails to respect athletes and give them their due in terms of training, camps etc, they will find out more and more people switching allegiance and going to represent some other country.

What is your target in Rio 2016?

My target is to get gold at the Olympics. Yes I know the world’s best will be present, Usain Bolt and the others but I know with hard work and God on my side, I can shock the world.

Thank you for your time.

The pleasure was mine. Thanks.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/sports-features/193998-interview-why-i-dumped-nigeria-for-qatar-asias-fastest-man-ogunode.html


I can almost see the dollar sign in his eyes
That is the only motivation he's got

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by pinkyruledworld(m): 9:41pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry
Wetin dis one dy talk... The ones wey dy here, shey dm feel fulfiled? Abeg carry head make i c front jarey

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by segzymiano: 9:44pm On Dec 01, 2015
shadrach77:
He can never feel fulfilled no matter what he achieves for Quatar cry cry cry

This is a blind statement, I'm sorry for being blunt but I'm not in support of what you've just written... So he could feel fulfilled back here, struggling with the top governmental politics in the Nigeria sports? Everything in our country is politics.

2 Likes

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by cold(m): 9:45pm On Dec 01, 2015
kento12:
same story 4rm every sector of dis country... When will we ever get it right as a country?? God help nigeria....
I swear. Very frustrating

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by HelenBee(f): 9:55pm On Dec 01, 2015
He's my cousin! Bigger you I pray Cuz!

1 Like

Re: Why I Dumped Nigeria For Qatar — Asia’s Fastest Man, Ogunode by HelenBee(f): 9:58pm On Dec 01, 2015
HillaryD:
proudly Nigeria,proudly Yoruba,proudly Ondo state and proudly Omo oka akoko.
Really?? Where in Oka?

1 Like

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