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Ethiopian’s Yasin Haji Returns To Defend Okpekpe 10km Road Race

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Ethiopia’s Yasin Haji will be seeking to make history as the first man to successfully defend an Okpekpe international 10km road race title after the 27-year-old arrived Lagos for Saturday’s race in Okekpe, Edo State.

Jaji became the third, bonafide Ethiopian man to win the Okpekpe race 10km title after he ran 29:05, the third fastest winning time in race history, to win the title in 2022.

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Teshome Mekonen who ran 28.35 in 2014 to set the race record was the first Ethiopian to win the men’s race and Leule Gebrselassie (29:28) became the second to win three years later.

Haji, who raced to a 27:00 lifetime best in the event last year in Lille has returned to form at the right time.

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The Ethiopian clocked 27:20 at the end of last month at the Adizero Road to Records, Adi-Dassler-Straße 1 in Herzogenaurach, Germany to send a message to his countryman, Mekonen that he is returning to Okpekpe to break the course record and make history.

The stage will not be for Haji alone as a certain Kenyan, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo will not only be seeking to return Kenya to the podium as Okpekpe race champion but also challenge Mekonen’s 28.35-course record.

Ebenyo is one of just 14 athletes in the event’s all-time list to have broken 27 minutes when he ran 26:58 in Valencia, Spain in January 2022, and like Haji, the 27-year-old has also returned to form just in time for the Okpekpe race.

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He ran 59:52 to win the Istanbul Half Marathon in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of last month and will be looking to become the fifth Kenyan winner of the Okpekpe 10km title.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gombe Gov, Yahaya Elected As NGF Chair

In the women’s race, a new course record also looks to be in the offing following the quality of the elite cast for the event.

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Kenya’s Edith Jepchumba will lead the cast of athletes aiming to rewrite the 32:41 course record set by Ethiopia’s Wude Ayalew in 2014.

The Kenyan ran a 30:53 lifetime best over the distance last February, nearly two minutes inside the course record and she is the fastest athlete among the elite cast confirmed for the race.

Ethiopia’s Bertukan Welde has also ran inside Ayalew’s course record when she clocked 32:00 to come in behind Jepchumba in Castellon, Spain last February.

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Abigael Jelimo will be seeking to get the gold this time after running 33.53 to place third at the eighth edition of the Okpekpe race last year.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest 5 Murder Suspects, Rescue 10 Kidnapped Victims In Benue

Meanwhile, Solomon Arase, former Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police and now Chairman of the Police Service Commission has commended Mike Itemuagbor, owner of the Okpekpe 10km race for sustaining the world-class road running event in Nigeria.

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Kudos to Mike (Itemuagbor), the great sports lover and administrator for putting the rural Okpekpe community on the map of the world. Okpekpe race has come to stay because of our brother who has been able to sustain it over the years,’ said Arase.

The ninth edition of the Okpekpe International 10km road race will hold on Saturday in Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo state.

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UNIBEN Ex-PRO Appointed Into Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Board

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Former Public Relations Officer(PRO),University of Benin Sports,Baye Osagie Sylvester has been appointed into the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.

The University of Birmingham trained sports administrator’s appointment as a coopted board member got the nod of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation President, Dr Ademola Are on Friday, September 15,2023.

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Osagie’s appointment into the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation is coming few days after his appointment as a member of Nigeria’s biggest Sports committee, The Nigeria Olympic Committee.

The United Kingdom-based Edo-born Sports Technocrat, getting national sports federations recognition is no surprise as he had over the years shown interest and supported grassroots sports development, beginning from his school day at the University of Benin.

Sylvester served as University of Benin Sports Public Relations Officer between 2016 and 2021 before moving to UK for studies where he obtained a master degree in International Sports Management in the prestigious Birmingham City University, England.

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Baye Osagie’s inclusion in the Nigeria Rugby Federation,no doubt is as a result of his vast knowledge in Rugby England and marketing skills.

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation believes the appointment is an opportunity for Baye Osagie to directly contribute his quota to the development of the game.

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Félix, Others Shine As Barcelona Crush Betis 5-0

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João Félix scored his first goal for his new club Barcelona as they beat Real Betis 5-0 in a thrilling encounter.

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid reached an agreement for the loan of Félix until 30 June 2024. The centre forward however scored the first goal of the game after 25 minutes, rounding Betis goalkeeper and scoring from a tight angle.

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After a wonderful through ball from Andreas Christensen and a dummy from Felix, Robert Lewandowski scored with a well-placed shot from about 12 yards out in a one-on-one situation.

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Teen Yamal shines as Barca edge seven-goal thriller at Villarreal
Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and João Cancelo all added to the scoresheet in the second half in the 62nd, 66th, and 81st minutes respectively.

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Barcelona is currently leading the La Liga table with 13 points having played five games. They are ahead of Real Madrid which has 12 points with a game at hand.

 

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CAF Confederation Cup: Bendel Insurance Held To 2-2 Draw

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Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin were held to a 2 – 2 draw by RS Berkane of Morocco at the 1st leg of the Second Round preliminary stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Benin Arsenals took the lead in the 27th Minute with a goal coming from Imade Osarenkhoe.

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The Moroccans equalised in the 39th minute of play through Hamza El Moussaoui following a poor clearance by Bendel Insurance.

READ ALSO: CAF Confederation Cup Qualifier: Obaseki Confident Of Victory As Bendel Insurance Host RS Berkane

Substitute Vincent Augustus put Bendel Insurance ahead again in the 60th minute but the celebration in the charged Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was halted in the 78th minute with an equalizing goal by Mohammed.

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