BY BEN EFE
The U.J Esuene Stadium Calabar came alive with kids from all over Cross River State last week. They all had one aim and that was to display their athletics prowess and perhaps earned their way to world acclaim.

But it was not all of the over 4,000 kids that had to endure the rigours of competition, which often lasted into the night that have what makes a champion. We had different running styles, strange and crude, it was one heck of a job for sports officials who had to select the wheat from the shaft.

Out of the thousands that participated only about a 100 showed true grit for athletics and this was highly satisfying to Bruce Ijirigho, who is the chief consultant to the Cross River State government’s drive to make the State the home of athletics in Nigeria. However, for the participating kids it was fun most especially those coming to the City for the first time in their natural lives.

But it seems a lot of work needs to be done with kids and their games masters from the rural areas, because majority of the children who were at the championships showed that they had no basic knowledge of the sport.

“We have done so much to keep the games master abreast of the rules. We gave them CDs, literature, but you still find out that kids are still coming here to do funny things, Obviously they hadn’t read the books or watch the CDs we gave them ,” said Dr Ijirigho.

He and his colleagues Lee Evans and Earnest Onat barely had five minutes of rest as they remained on their feet, keeping the boat of the championships from capsizing.

There were kids running out of their lanes. It was so bad that some of them would move from lane one to four pushing and shoving their way through. There was one particular kid in the 1500m who on noticing that she was about to be beaten, shoved her much smaller opponent maliciously, luckily the little girl remained on her feet and she coasted home to silver.

This notwithstanding, the kids were just happy running even as they were half kitted by their respective local governments. Only a few of them bore their true identity, an overwhelming majority were clad in either Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona jersey or beeps badly sown by local tailors.

“Can you believe that these local governments received as much as N1m each to enable them prepare and participate?
“Yet they allowed these kids to come here poorly dressed,” said Dr. Ijirigho.

But the show went on, the students lived like there was no tomorrow, they sang and danced to latest dance steps and hailed each other by their nicknames such as Powerbike, Simcard, Ajegunle et.c.

At the end of each day officials had to ensure that these kids retired to their hostels to sleep. They were prepared to dance the night away.

Some of the kids who excelled include Nkiru Iroha, who won three gold medals for Ikom local government area. Godwin Antigha, Happiness Paul, Savior Effiong, Raymond Abbey and Margaret Ojom all who won multiple medals in the primary school category.

In the Secondary school Mercy Ntiaobong, Mercy Onoyime Micheal David were the star attractions. They won three gold medals However, the most amazing appearance was that of Akwa Eyo who, before the event, had never participated in athletics before.

He was dressed up to for the march pass, but he was challenged by his father Emma Eyo why he wasn’t running. The younger Eyo took to the tracks and was able to win a double in the 400m and 800m for Calabar Municipality.

“I’m very happy for him. I noticed that he has running prowess and I took him to Lee Evans. I’m looking forward to see him doing well in athletics,” said Mr. Eyo who was always at the Stadium to cheer his boy.