March 1990. It was inter-house sports day. A day I have been waiting for about a month. A lot of bragging rights, support and training had gone into the preparation of the 100m seniors race. A legendary race. The memories of our heroes past. Badmus Akinbowa, Dayo “Away Bullet” Afe, Magnificent Alaba and Dapo Adegbuyi’s brother Pa Jimoh. Years of other excellent runners including Eleekutu and others I cannot remember their names but ran for the glory of their houses and for the honour of getting the gold medal from Fr. Donney ( of blessed memory). The bigger price was out there - having the fastest relay teams and other schools inter-house sports and boy! I smiled and rambled all day to friends from other schools of our invincibility. Not that we did not lose from time to time but it was few and far in between.
Back to the story. We had our top runners for the year in the relay team. It was not the people I expected based on history. Adebola “Energy” Adesida, Dayo “Irunmu” Adeleye, Ori iku (a year junior ), and Funsho Giwa. Funsho Giwa. The one person I least expected in the team and now looking like the fastest at the time but just broke through in SS 2:2. From JSS 1, the names were Sunday “Shasara” Ajayi, Ayodeji Omojola, Adebola Adesida, Oladiti Ogundipe, Kayode Olukoju, Sunday Elewa, Yemi Ikugbayigbe, Tomide Ogunsakin were the names reigning but only Adebola was still into this in our final year. For sure, there were others during 1984 and 1990 that rose and fell by the wayside but the *fantastic 4* in the relay team are usually the fastest 4.
Anyway, a month before the inter-house sports, I was playing with some of the guys in SS 3:2 as my best friend, Deji Ludodo Ajayi was in that class. It was break time and there were class members on the football field. Messing around, we challenged each other to race and there were eye-widening results. Okay, Deji Ajayi beating me was normal, that happened more times than usual. But Adu Akinwumi beating Deji was a surprise! Akinwumi Adu nla Adu beating Deji ”Ajayi took a few of us aback but there was a jackpot - Lateef Adebayo was faster than everyone.
Lateef was one that cared about his reputation in other circles than to be seen running and end up sweaty. Usually looking dashing and keeping to his circle, outgunning us that day led to everyone saying that he needed to compete in the inter-house sports. We were not slackers when it came to running and most of us were either budding talents in a particular sport and very active so for Lateef to win, he was definitely quick and his recognition in sports will be in goal from time to time in football sets. He hesitated but after some cajoling, he agreed to consider it. A few additional races against others confirmed what we thought. Then Lateef really decided to test his strength against Ori iku, our junior that was fast but bragged a bit about it. The race was over within the first 20 meters. I was chuckling as Lateef was slowing down not to make the win obvious but Ori iku using every strength he has to close the gap. Lateef won the race and the gauntlet were thrown. You can see Dayo and Adebola watching and looking at the ease of the race for Lateef, this might not be a straightforward race for them on the inter-house sports day. They were training to beat Funsho on the day but now they have another opposition. It is like Euro 92 where Holland and Germany were aiming to beat each other and then Yugoslavia cannot make it due to war breaking out and the Danish team are pulled into the tournament and have beaten Holland in the semi-finals. Opa ta fi na iyale, o nbe laja fun Iyawo. Our job is to encourage Lateef to keep fit, practice, and qualify. Qualification for the final was easy. There was no one faster in his house and by reputation, he was given a slot in the 100m finals. I was elated.
Inter-house sports day. Normally, I will be rooting for my house (St. Michael’s) but it did not matter this year. All that matters was to see my friend take down the organised order. Nothing against the runners; they were friends too but Lateef was my padi. We are not part of the athletics team so my loyalties to him were like 🙌🏾. Everything was reaching the climax as other events went by. Then came the 100m finals. I have found myself a spot close to the finishing line as non-participants are not allowed on the fields. All runners started their preparations but it was taking longer than expected. Suddenly, the principal went to the starting line to find out what is going on and get things moving. All of a sudden, I see my friend walking away from the starting line. 😳😱🙆🏾♂️. *Ki lo sele?* what could he have done? He did not beat the starting gun so it must be something else. Within a blink of an eye, the race started and I can see Funsho Giwa crossing the winning line as expected and the other galloping behind. I was dismayed. I was expecting the rise of a Titan. A war between two great talents from different worlds but it never came to pass. I was nearly cursing the principal when I heard my friend was disqualified because he was taking too long to get his running spikes on. I was thinking - bare feet, trainers, he had a chance. Why the fancy spikes? Then again, my friend has a reputation - he has class so looking spick and span was part of the package.
Went home and never saw the race of all times for my set. It became the race that never took place. The athlete's team reputation was intact and we will never find out if the established order will have been dislodged or broken. Imagine the permutations - you can break into the team without teaming with them, there must be talents not being tapped around so giving others a chance will become the order of the day. If only ...
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