Sports

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: Elite runners arrive from Kenya, Ethiopia

Published

4 years ago

April 7, 2021

The strong cast of elite runners invited for the 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon are now in town for Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated race.

According to an official statement released by Olukayode Thomas, Head Communication and Media for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, over 95% of the elite runners have already arrived in Lagos while a few others are scheduled to jet in early Thursday.

Thomas confirmed that the 2019 Women champion, Meseret Dinke and fellow Ethiopians Sechale Dalasa, Motu Megersa and Obse Abdeta have all arrived from their respective bases.

Obse was among the top ten finishers at the last Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon where she posted an impressive time of 2:29:30.

The 21-year old was also present at the 2019 Toray Cup – Shanghai International Marathon where her (2:27:47) finish time was good enough to make it to the podium

Thomas also confirmed the arrival of the Kenyan quartet of Jane Seurey, Winny Jepkorir, Esther Macharia and Salina Jebet who will all be jostling for the thousands of dollars up for grabs in the Lagos race.

Salina was the winner of the 2019 Marathon Eiffage de Dakar, Dakar and was also part of the 2019 International Peace Marathon, Kigali and Asics Firenze Marathon, Firenze in the same year.’

Aside from eyeing the top prize in Lagos the elite women runners will also be gunning to erase Sharon Cherop’s course record of 2:37:52 set the last year 2020.

For the men’s category, Cosmas Kyeva, Jackson Kotut, Evans Kipkosgei Ruto, Julius Tuwei and Emmanuel Naibei all from Kenya are among the early arrivals in Lagos for Saturday’s World Athletics Silver Label Race.

Now in its sixth edition, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the biggest one-day event in Africa usually attracts over 100,000 runners but the number has been reduced to just 300 runners for the 2021 edition slated for April 10.

Organisers have however perfected plans to have many others be part of the excitement by participating in its virtual race.

Runners can participate by signing up for the Virtual 10KM on Finerge, all they have to do is download the mobile app on either Google Play or Appstore, register for the Virtual 10km.

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Sports

Rising Stars Football League Shares Free Fuel To Commercial Motorcycle Riders In FCT

Published

2 days ago

November 10, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

In continuation of its gesture to the need across the all sectors, Rising Stars Football League ,RSFL, has once again shared free fuel to over 100 commercial motorcyclists popularly known as “Okada rider” in the Bwari Local Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory as response to the prevalent economic hardship in the country, represents a remarkable display of kindness and generosity on the part of the football league.

The free fuel distribution attracted hundreds of motorbike riders who were delighted to receive the unexpected gift.

The fuel donation, which took many by surprise, took place at NIPPCO Filling station in Bwari Local Government of Abuja.

Just on Wednesday, RSFL, brought smiles to the faces of over 100 pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as sick patients, at the Primary Health Care Center in Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

While speaking shortly after the gesture, the RSFL General Manager, Bobby Isiekwena expressed that, the compassionate gesture aligns with RSFL’s ongoing mission not only to promote youth talent in sports but also to give back to society.

RSFL’s outreach efforts beyond football: “We’re reaching out to people in hospitals, schools, and markets, even assisting associations like Okada riders and security outfits. Seeing the joy on people’s faces is a privilege. I feel a sense of joy,.

“I am thrilled to see the smiles on the faces of these hardworking bike riders.
Our organization is not just about football, it’s all about grassroots and community development as you can see the excitement, joy on the faces of beneficiaries this is what we need in our society i almost shielding tears.”

Bwari as a community has been so supportive with our league, they always come out enmass both in away and home games, they are amazing.

He noted that the RSFL plans to extend its outreach to other regions, including an upcoming visit to Lagos.

An elated Chairman of the Okada rider Association in Bwari Gimba shaidalilauded the RSFL’s act of kindness offered prayers and express gratitude for the generosity to the mankind.
According to him, we thank God on behalf of this organization, we thank them for free fuel, free reflecting jacket.

“As you can see, they are happy, they will use the fuel to make money and their family will benefit from it. We are praying for this organization for more success in your endeavour, Muslim and Christian Okada people will be praying for your success with this gesture”.

He, however, vowed to always mobilize Okada riders to support any program or project that the organization is doing.

One of the beneficiaries, Ibrahim Yusuf, thanked the RSFL for the gesture, saying the gift will go a long way in helping many families sustain themselves.

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