NAN-S-11
Donation
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, March 22, 2017 (NAN) Some physically challenged athletes have commended the philanthropic gesture of Obafemi Matins, an ex-Super Eagles striker for donating 500 wheelchairs and crutches to them at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The athletes, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, described Matins’ generosity as “unprecedented’’.
NAN reports that the items were handed over to the athletes through the Lagos-based Obafemi Martins Foundation.
The ex-Super Eagles player started his professional career with Inter-Milan FC, Italy, and now plies his trade as a forward for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, China.
Thomas Kure, a national athlete who benefited from the donation, expressed happiness to have a new set of crutches.
“I am grateful to Matins for identifying with us and meeting a major need which would go a long way to enhance our activities in our respective sports.
“A lot of philanthropists in and outside the country who are richer than Matins have not deemed it fit to affect the lives of the athletes but Matins humbly did.
“Obafemi has through these gifts added value to our lives; we are all happy and rejoicing because he has supported us to continue in our sports career,’’ he said.
Oluwasegun Ajiboye, an 80kg powerlifter, also said he was impressed with the recognition given to the athletes by the Matins, who according to him has challenged others.
Ajiboye, while applauding the ex-Super Eagles player, prayed that God would bless him and lift him to a higher ground for the good things he had done for them.
“Obafemi has wiped the tears of some who have been desperately in need of crutches and wheelchair. I have told God to bless him and make richer for this singular act,’’ he said.
Fatimah Taiwo, a 73kg female powerlifter, told NAN that she did not have a wheelchair but was planning to buy before the gift.
Taiwo, who recently joined the sport, said the gift came in handy and would spur her to come for training earlier than she used to.
“I really cherish this wheelchair because I have been thinking of how to buy one and God has used Matins to answer my prayers, God bless him,’’ she said.
Another powerlifter in the 59kg, Sodiq Salam, said he had a wheelchair which developed fault and he had yet to repair it before a new one was given to him by Martins.
Salam added that with the new wheelchair in his possession, he would be committed to training and in return make Obafemi happy so that he could do more.
Feyisetan Are, national Coach of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), described the gifts as a remarkable contribution to the lives of the physically challenged athletes.
Are said he was gladdened by the donation, adding that the availability of wheelchairs and crutches had been a major challenge slowing down athlete’s movement to and from training venues.
“Joy has been flowing in my heart because of what Matins has done for the physically challenged athletes,’’ he said. (NAN)
MIL/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)