NCAA 400m Champion, Samuel Ogazi has blamed injury and negligence on the part of Team Nigeria’s officials for his disappointing showing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Ogazi finished 5th in Heat 3 in 45.97s far below his personal best time of 44.41s ran last year in Paris. America’s Jacory Patterson won the race in 43.90s, followed by Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica in 44.38s and Collen Kebinatshipi in 44.48s.
Speaking after the race, Ogazi said he told Team Nigeria’s officials he was not ready for the race, but they insisted he should run and the result is the poor performance.
He also pointed out that running with injury was not part of him and was ready to sit out the race but was forced to run with injury.
‘I told Team Nigeria officials I was not prepared for the race.First of all, my harmstring was bothering me,but they still insisted I should go and run and I did what I could, and this is the outcome’
He explained how the injury came about and his decision not to run.’ On Monday back home, I had a very good practise and felt ready, and even on Tuesday,but on Wednesday,I went for a shake up and I felt something like in my harmstring.’
Ogazi pointed out, ‘I don’t run with injuries and everybody who knows me, know I don’t run with injuries and I told them I’m not prepared for it, and don’t feel I will do anything, if I go out there, but they still said I should go out there and give it your all’
The NCAA Champion, said he did not do anything well to prepare for the race because of the injury and ‘during the warm up I spoke to the doctor,I’m not ready, but he taped my leg.I know I was not ready.I am not ready and strong yet.
He however pointed out that his state of health could have been because he was diagnosed with Covid two weeks ago.
Ogazi however said despite the disappointing out at the Worlds, he had an impressive and superb season.’ Our main goal was to win the NCAA and we got that, after that I was just going with the flow”
Hi compatriots, Chidi Okezie also failed to make the semis finishing 8th in Heat 2 in a disappointing 45.66s in a race won by Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori in 44.36s.
