The Clincher.

THE CLINCHER

It was a warm Saturday with no evidence of rain to spoil the events scheduled to conclude the inter-house sports competition of the Federal Government College in Lagos. The seventh day of March 1998 was the day and canopies were all set for the students at the end of the school sports field closer to the fence bordering the legendary 'white house'. The pavilion was also adorned in readiness for parents, invited guests and schools. Chinedu 'Ngigz' Ngige had arranged on the evening of the sixth for the transport of the high jump equipment and those for the torch lighting ceremony by some junior students. It was his duty as the sports prefect to run around the field with a flaming torch in hand accompanied by selected captains of the six houses before proceeding to the centre of the field to complete his task. Ngigz was on the school football and basketball teams and not much of a sprinter. He did his job majestically and the games began.

Moremi house had never won the inter-house sports competition before and had a particularly dreadful showing the year before coming in a distant last. Ogochi Uwakwe and Saheed Ashafa were the major threats in 1997 but Ogochi was edged to second in her sprint events by the dominant Helga. Saheed on the other hand was hampered by injury and produced next to nothing for his house.

The same duo were now third year seniors and completely dominated in all their events in the two days of the heats; Ogochi in the short sprints and Saheed in the long distant races. However, the other houses proved to have their own stars capable of winning the overall honour for themselves. Chike Nwaocha was set to sweep all the senior boys sprint events for Jaja house. He was the fastest senior in school from the year before and was a close second in the 100 meters two years prior, his first year as a senior. Dan-fodio and Macaulay houses had strong all-round athletes who performed creditable well on the heat days and were poised to continue from where they stopped at the main event.

The events started with the customary march past, an event judged by quality of the parade, house banner, appearance, and some factors known only to the judges. The assistant house captain of Moremi house, Jide Akeju was set to lead out his marchers and was understandably nervous. It was his first event but more scary was the fear of the perennial victors of this event; the boys and girls dressed in purple. One couldn't help but feel that Macaulay house thought of winning the parade as their right and they sent shivers down the spines of other crews during the nights of practice. The experience of the marchers and the baritone voice of their commander during the practice periods, Tarfa Kpamber cutting through the darkness demanded others to stop and observe. 

Jide calmed down considerably when he realised that Tarfa had opted not to command but instead relinquished that duty to the very experienced Tosin Oyedele, a second year senior. The parade, itself started very well but something seemed to go wrong just at the end of the salute. The Moremi marchers in their fancy face caps just seemed to move outside of the instructions of their barking commander. They somehow composed themselves in time, got into the required formation and ended the march to stand at ease alongside the other houses in front of the pavilion to await the verdict. Jide had lost his voice but didn't fail to berate his troops for the slip up. The first miracle happened when with two houses left, Moremi was somehow declared winner of the march past ahead of the formidable Macaulay crew. The victorious commander couldn't contain his joy as his voice returned via some divine intervention.

Moremi was in third place after the heats and trailed the leading Dan-fodio house led by the imperious Obinna Obiakor by as much as 3 gold medals. Obinna was leading his house to victory, victorious in both the long and triple jump senior boys events. He was in confident mode for the sprint events of the main day and his house members just seemed to be basking in similar confidence. Moremi house's victories from the heats  were largely due to the efforts of Saheed, Ogochi and an inspired group of junior students. Winning the march past was like a sign that an upset was on the cards.

Ogochi won the senior girls 100 meters event with ease but it was the boys event that had all the seniors on the edge. Macaulay house had two rookies making the final in Tobechukwu Obi and Benedict Okobi. The two boys only came to prominence as sprinters in their third year as seniors. Moremi's fastest boy was a second year senior, Aghedo Ikponwosa who made the final ahead of Charles Woghiren who had come in fourth in his own heat. The major issue was the acknowledgement of Chike Nwaocha as the undisputed king of the tracks. The debate started in 1995 when Chike just about shaded the junior boys event ahead of Collins Mbaike, Jude Chiedu, Tokunbo Osho, Obinna Obiakor and Ahmed Rufai. Chike let his running do the talking and completely obliterated the field and the school record in a dazzling run putting at least 10 meters between himself and second place. Benedict failed to complete the 100 meters, dropping out due to an ankle sprain he picked up during the football finals a few days before. That however didn't stop him from storming to first place in the 400 metres event and getting ready for the 4x100 meters relay.

The events were running out quickly and Moremi had made up ground on the leaders  nearly equaling their gold medal count. The invited schools were having their time on the tracks as well as parents and old students. The senior boys high jump event was very much underway. Chinedu 'Prex' Engele was the favorite to win for Macaulay house. He had won the same event two years before in his first year as a senior ahead of more accomplished jumpers. His main rivals were fellow Macaulay jumper and all-rounder Tarfa Kpamber, Oduduwa's Niyi Adelusi and the Jaja house duo of Tomi Fajulugbe and Abiye Fubara. Tomi was third the previous year ahead of Abiye who may have been regarded as a perennial underachiever, always coming close but never placing. Prex somehow faded away as Abiye somehow tossed his body repeatedly and accurately with an eastern cut off style over the beam to claim victory. This was not as shocking as the school soccer captain and javelin novice, Fatai Martins claiming victory for Dan-fodio house over the clear favorite in the javelin event, Niyi Adelusi and strong challenger Anthony Anyanwu. Ugo Nwokolo was completely dominant in the senior boys shot put and discuss events.

The main event to determine the victors was fast approaching. A few houses had their four runners already figured out while one or two were torn between their heads and their hearts. Moremi only had two runners who were sure to run from the 100meters event, Aghedo and Charles. Macaulay with two very strong runners in Tobechukwu and Benedict opted to restore the once reliable Tokunbo Osho to their quartet as the anchor leg while the reliable Tarfa ran the second leg. Tokunbo had the unpleasant history of losing out twice from leading positions as the anchor leg in 1995 and 1997. Jaja house were the clear favorites, a position made stronger by the emphatic display of Chike in the 100 meters event. They also had two other fast third year seniors in their quartet; Abiye and Tayo Adewale and it was all set for them to coast home. Oduduwa house had no choice but to have Jude, Eyo Inyang as their second leg and Bisola Aworinde as anchor. Their combination didn't inspire any confidence of placing. The silent El-kanemi house led by the school captain Collins Mbaike had Collins' bunk mate for six years, Ejomafu Obere in their four with the day student Emmanuel Okhiade while the apprehensive Dan-fodio house called up Fatai Martins as first leg, Obinna to handle the 2nd curve and Akeem Ashafa as anchor. Obinna had  had to watch in agony as Ogochi stormed from a losing position to overtake his house anchor in the senior girls 4x100 meters relay, a race that Dan-fodio had fielded their fastest junior without the detection of the officials. Saheed Ashafa who left all in his wake at all the long distance races put himself forward to run the third leg for Moremi, Charles was to go second and Aghedo last. A decision for the first leg runner had to be made. Chidozie Ugochukwu had braced himself to race and Chidozie Okonkwo was also an option. After a brief conversation between Saheed and the assistant house captain Jide Akeju, the choice of Kizito Salubi was made. Jide made his way to look for kizito and on his way commandeered a yellow shirt from a junior boy for kizito to hurriedly put on.

The race started and Moremi stayed close in fourth place while Fatai appeared to move in slow motion. The  first changeovers were smooth and no one appeared to really run clear of the rest as Dimgba king compensated for Dan-fodio's very slow start. The next miracle happened when the long distance runner, Saheed appeared to snatch the baton from Charles and speed off away from the other third legs only to be caught about five meters from the last change over by the determined Benedict.. Tokunbo took off first and it was deja vu all over again. Jide who was across the finish line and watching the event unfolding started to pace towards the finish line as he saw Aghedo receiving the baton just a few meters after Tokunbo. A few strides later and Aghedo was ahead and Akeem  from the third position gained after a devastating run from Obinna on the third leg caught up with Tokunbo in no time too. With ten meters to go, it was clear that Moremi would win the race and the inter-house sports event of 1998. Chike surged forward but failed to usurp Tokunbo from the third position, the small price Jaja paid for fielding the stocky Chidi Chigbufue. The third miracle happened, Aghedo crossed the line and Moremi won against all odds for the first time.

Jide akeju

29/3/2014

A near accurate recollection of the events that marked my happiest day as a student of FGC Ijanikin Lagos.