The presence of two of the country’s brightest hopes for medals at the ongoing Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume threw members of Team Nigeria into a frenzy of excitement.
Fresh from Oregon, United States of America, Amusan and Brume arrived the Birmingham (CGB) Games Village camp in the early hours yesterday to a rousing welcome by officials and athletes alike.
Team Nigeria’s Coordinator in Birmingham, Yusuf Ali expressed delight over the arrival of the World Championships medallists, who were among the last batch of the country’s athletes to arrive.
Although they are already in Birmingham, Ali said Amusan and Brume, who won gold and silver in the women 100m hurdles and women long jump respectively, were expected to take little time off to rest.
“It is a surprise and good team spirit for us to have them this early because athletics events starts next week. That they chose to come here is a demonstration of their readiness to excel at the Commonwealth Games as well. We are happy because this will also motivate others to do well,” Ali, who was a year older yesterday, said.
Amusan, the world record holder and recently crowned world champion in the 100m hurdles and long jumper, Brume, are favourites to clinch gold in their different events as they did at the last Commonwealth Games they were part of.
Athletics experts and coaches in Team Nigeria camp believe the positive energy and momentum of both Amusan and Brume will boost the confidence of the other athletes in camp.