The man, Osagie Ohaimu, popularly known amongst sports enthusiasts in Nigeria and beyond as “USA”, is indeed a rare specie of an athlete with great repute. The Baptist High School in Benin City discovery former National Long Distance Runner now Athletics coach in Edo, no doubt, has caved niche for himself in the Marathon Race and others. Little wonder, he set the record of the fastest 5000 Metres Runner in Africa during 2003 All African Games in Algeria.
In this encounter with the duo of Idahosa Musa/ Favour Francis, the first Guard Runner to represent Nigeria in all African Games expressed his readiness to partake in the weekend Okpekpe 10Km Road Race, his contributions to the development of Athletics in Edo, Sponsor, Mr.Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama, and beared his mind on other sundry issues.
Excerpt:
Introduction:
My Name is Coach Osagie Ohaimu, popularly known as ‘USA’. I am an Athletics Coach in Edo. I am a former State and National Champion as I represented the then Bendel State in various Athletics Championship even when the old Bendel State was shared into two states: Edo and Delta, I ran for Edo state in several championship as well.
International Scene:
I became the National Champion in 2003 in 21KM Race. In fact, I set the record in Goteberg in Sweden. From there, I moved to the mountain in Cameroon, the Boya City Mountain and I won a trophy there same 2003.
Coaching Career:
After my exploit at Boya City mountain, I was issued a letter by the state as a grassroots coach in athletics. So I started to produce athletes for the state.
Contributions to U-15 Athletics:
In Edo, as far as I am concerned, Coach Osagie Ohaimu, AKA USA, in Athletics for Grassroots (U-15 category) have paid his dues. I have produced over 38 athletes, which 15 out of the over 38 athletes have represented the state in National Youth Games severally. In all I have about 11 standard athletes to my credit.
Readiness for Okpekpe:
I am battle ready to run in the forthcoming Okpekpe 10K Road Race. I will be competing at the Masters’ Category. I am not just competing alone, but I am competing to win and I have done it before. I have started training ahead of the race.
Champion of 1st Okpekpe Marathon:
In the first ever Okpekpe Race, I was the overall winner of the marathon race. Then, International Athletes were not invited to compete. I won the overall prize then. At the 2nd edition of Okpekpe 10Km Road race, the Organizers fixed us into the indigenous category where I also became the champion of this new category.
Contributions fo the Race:
After the second edition of the Okpekpe Marathon race, I started to produce athletes for the championship and at the last championship held in 2019, I went with an 8-year -old girl , this development was first in the world. I took 10 athletes for the championship which the Deputy Governor of the state was the Captain of Edo State Team. I did not compete at the championship because I was at the finishing point .
2022 Race:
I am taking 10 athletes to this year’s edition. We are going there to make Edo proud and the country in general. I am not stopping at the Race, but I want to also reclaim the National Champion’s position in Marathon.
Geonaphic Athletes Club:
I have my athletics Club called Geonaphic where I train under-15 athletes because I believe in catching them young. At the last Okpekpe race, five athletes from my club participated and they did very well.
On his T11 Participation:
I am the first athlete in the Country to use the visually impaired athletes to run in All African Games in Long Distance race in Algeria, 2007. The game is called T11. In fact, I am the best Distant Runner in South-South. But painfully, after my time, there is no distant runner again in the South-South. In Distance Race, we have 24 Golds for grab, raging from 800M, 1500M, 3000M, 5000M and 10,000M respectively. Its two golds each for male and female categories making it 24 golds in total.
Way Forward for Athletes Discovery:
For we to get it right, Edo must keep harnessing talents from grassroots rather than thinking of buying as talents abound in the state. In fact, I was discovered at Baptist High School,TV Road in Benin City and I was produced here in Edo. I believe in catching them young and this is what I am doing daily.
On Chairman of Edo Sports Commission:
Mr. YUSUF ALI, I know him very well. He was my senior in the Track. No doubt, Mr Yusuf is capable of transforming Sports in Edo state. He has the ability and Capacity to do so and we are all happy to have him as the Sports Commission Chairman.
Advise:
I want too advise sports men and women in the state to always exploit their God’s given potentials, gifts, talents as my athletic prowess is a gift from God because I came from an average home.
Appreciation:
I want to specially thank my bossom friend, Mr Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama, who has decided to sponsor me and my athletes to this year’s Okpekpe 10K Road Race. Mr Osawaru has being a great motivator to many sports men and women within and outside Edo State. We are fortunate to have Mr. Osawaru Ogbeide-Ihama in Edo because he is not only kindhearted but always wanting to transform sports in the state. In fact, he is a strong proponent of sports development in Edo and ever commited to removing the people from the streets through his various support to sports men and women. So, I say thank you to him again.
