Warri native Clifford Igbigbidje, who won four gold medals at the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, talks about how he left football for sprinting, sickness at the Games and more in this interview with PETER AKINBO
Was sprinting your first love?
No, my first sport was football. I played football for close to a year when I was 11 but I kept on having injuries. My parents stopped it because of the continuous ankle injuries, the treatments and the money they spent, and so I just had to let it go. Then after one month, I got into JSS1 and I saw their inter-house sports and it was okay, so I decided to try out (athletics) the next year.
So, was it easy for you when you started athletics?
I was good at it but it was not that easy. I saw many people doing it and having fun, so I just decided to try it. My first trial at athletics was not that bad, I was able to meet the Delta State schools sports team, so, from then, I decided to focus on it.
Did your parents also have issues with you sprinting?
My parents stopped it again, but my coach and some friends and family members had to keep on begging before they agreed. They told me that they were going to give me a chance but if I sustained an injury, I’ll have to stop it.
Why did they stop it in the first place?
It was affecting my education and I did not have time to read again. Now I have gotten a good balance with the two. My coach created a time for me to train in the evening with some other athletes that are still in secondary school.
What would you consider the most challenging moment you have had since you started athletics?
For me, I would say it was at the Youth Games in Asaba. After our heats, the last three days to our final, I fell sick so I could not perform, I was on injection and drip during the finals. It was just too frustrating, I told my coach I wanted to back out because I was not seeing any chances of winning, but with motivation and encouragement from my teammates, my family and all, I just started to give it a try and I am happy I could make it.
At the point you were on drip, you had not won any medal…
(Cuts in) Yes, and then when I tried, I won four gold medals, all the competitions I ran in, I won gold medals. I don’t really know what made me to even fall sick, after my semi-final in the 200m. I had not eaten throughout that day till evening, so I was feeling a bit dizzy, so I went to the medical centre to get some water and the next thing I saw myself lying and stretched out in the medical centre.
What did the Games doctor advice you to do?
The decision was for me to make, they asked me if I was okay. The doctor warned me that I would not be at my best, so it was for me to choose whether I wanted to risk it or leave it, so I just decided to take the risk.
So, what would you say is your happiest moment in athletics?
My happiest moment was my 4x100m relay boys’ final where I was able to chase down the last runner and won the gold medal for my team. That was my happiest moment, not only in sports, but my happiest moment ever till date. The joy I got from it, everybody was just grateful, the whole crowd was yelling my name, I could see what I had done on the screen. I can’t really explain right now because during the state I was, I was still really sick, but I was able to run. That was the fastest I ran throughout the whole Youth Games. We were third when the baton was passed to me and then I chased both runners ahead of me down.
What is your personal best and when did you set it?
My personal best is 11.10secs and it was set this year at the Delta State All-Governmental Sports. I did not win any medal at this competition. I was not even able to make the finals at this tournament; it was for the U-17s, so my seniors were there. I just went there to see if I could stand s chance with the seniors.
If you could not beat the best in your state at U-17, what are your hopes for the National Sports Festival, where you will be facing the best in the country next year?
I am 13 now, so I will be 14 by December, so I will still go for the next National Youth Games. I believe I still have time before I will compete at the sports festival but right now, I have increased my training programme, I asked my coach to increase it to give me the kind of performance I really want. I want to be able to get myself under the 11secs barrier before the year runs out.
What is your goal as an athlete?
I want to really help my family and friends. I want to be able to meet up with the African youth standards, so I can easily get a scholarship abroad and be able to start helping my friends and family from there.
Who is your role model?
My role model is Godson Brume. I like everything about him, his character, his movements, and his performances this year gave me assurances ahead of the Youth Games in Asaba. He has been injured for two years and everybody was calling Favour Ashe’s name as the new guy, but I had it in mind that Godson would come back.
Have you ever met him?
No, but I came across him when he came for the national trials in Asaba, where they ran the relay race to make the mark for the World Athletics Championships qualification, so I saw him there. He ran the last leg for his team and he was able to get them the time they needed to make the qualification standards. I was even happier when I did it at the Youth Games because I replicated what he did. I could not speak to him at the trials because everyone was all over him. If I get the chance to speak with him, I will ask him about how he motivated himself when he was injured and came back to compete among the best in Africa. I have a lot to talk to him about, I really want to be like him.
Do you think that athletics is well managed in Nigeria?
Yes, I would say athletics is growing well right now in Nigeria but we need more youth competitions to bring out the best in us in the grassroots because the competitions we have mainly in Nigeria are for juniors and seniors. The only youth competition we have is the National Youth Games, so we truly need more youth competitions in Nigeria.
