Team Ogun has emerged victorious in the 4×400 metres mixed relay event at the ongoing National Sports Festival, codenamed “Gateway Games 2024,” holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The relay squad, made up of Gafar Badmus, Tosin Adeloye, Samson Nathaniel, and Toheebat Jimoh, delivered a stunning performance at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena on Friday, securing the gold medal ahead of formidable contenders from Edo and Lagos states, who finished second and third, respectively.
Speaking with journalists after the race, the team’s coach, Saheed Akinpelu, attributed the success to hard work, strategy, and team discipline.
“We achieved this feat through dedication and hard work. The state government also did well by putting the athletes in camp,” he said.
However, Coach Akinpelu emphasized the need for longer training camps to enhance future performances.
“If we had stayed in camp for three months, I’m confident we would have done even better than this,” he said. “We used all our strategies to defeat strong states like Bayelsa and Delta. Our athletes are humble and they listen to instructions—that makes a big difference.”
Describing the relay victory as a morale booster, he noted that the day had started brightly for Team Ogun.
“We began the morning with a gold medal in the walking race, and now another in the relay. It’s fantastic—a great result for us,” he added.
Coach Akinpelu expressed strong optimism that more medals would come Ogun’s way in the days ahead.
“We’re hopeful of winning more golds. These athletes have worked hard and they’ve also been prayerful. That combination always brings results.”
