By Ben Efe
Nigerian coach, Tony Osheku has disclosed that Libyans are holding on to him, after he guided Mohammed Khawaja to an unprecedented gold in the men’s 400m at the last African athletics championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

Khawaja shocked race favourites Rabah Yousef and Gary Kikaya to win Libya’s first gold in the history of the championships. And it was pure joy to Libyans who now want Osheku to repeat the feat at the London 2012 Olympics.

Osheku initially signed a one-year contract, but after he and the other athletes arrived to a heroes welcome in Tripoli on Monday, the Libyans offered him a contract extension, which according to him would be hard to resist.

“A lot has been promised and I must admit that I’m really enjoying it. I will not hesitate to stay on because they really appreciated me and they are really taking care of me.

“They believe in me and they have given me a free hand to draw up a program and choose wherever I want for training,” said the coach

Khawaja won the race in 44.98sec. Sudanese Yousif clocked 45.18, Democratic Republic of Congo’s 2006 champion and African record holder Kikaya came third in 45.28m, sharing the same time with fourth_placed Mark Mutai of Kenya. Ironically there was no Nigerian athlete in the medal zone.

Osheku disclosed that he would have loved to return to Nigeria and help the country.
“ I love Nigeria my country, but I just don’t understand why they snubbed me.

“ Nigerian athletes are well talented and aggressive and I love them a lot. But we have to create an enabling environment that will make them to succeed. Nigeria must learn how to appreciate  their past heroes and encourage  them to be part of the system rather than discouraging them,” Osheku said.