The Ogunode brothers are well-known in athletics circles. Femi has won multiple gold medals in Asian Games. Tosin, the younger one, has also proven his mettle by setting an Asian record in 60m indoors. The Nigeria-born athletes have made Qatar their home for the last eight years or so, helping the oil-rich monarchy make a mark in global events.
It was a grudge towards the Nigerian sports administrators, who denied Femi a chance in the national team, that prompted the then 18-year-old to say goodbye to his country. One of the Qatari scouts, who was aware of the rift between the sports body and the athlete, drafted him into the team. Femi and his four brothers were naturalised, and he went on to win double gold in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.
Their life in the Middle East is good and eventful, but the duo is not ready to stay back and enjoy Doha forever. For they have other ideas to implement. They will head back to Nigeria once they are done with competitive sports to intensify the grassroot work they have been doing through their charity organisations to educate and provide food.
Femi, 26, runs the Femi Foundation, while Tosin, 24, runs a charity organisation in his name. Both are involved in providing free education to deprived children in the streets of their hometown of Ondo and other places. Tosin also runs a football club under his foundation.
For the duo, sports is a way to provide a better life to the needy. “Even with little money you can provide something. You can help keep food on their tables. And that’s why we are attached to sports. Also, it comes naturally to us,” said Tosin after winning the 100m heats on Thursday.
Femi is critical of the corruption and violence prevailing in the African nation and is planning to relocate to after retirement. “I want to do something for them. I want to help the children attend schools,” he said after topping his group in the 100m heats.
According to Tosin, lack of educational care and hunger are what haunt his people. “I have seen them struggling to put food on their tables. I saw it on a day-to-day basis. I can’t gloss over it because I’m having a nice life.”
The two brothers are also planning to start an athletics club in Nigeria to nurture young talent that the country produces in abundance. Femi felt nepotism and corruption were the two things hindering development in Nigeria. Being a survivor of these two curses, Femi could easily relate to the prevailing situation. A self-made man, he felt that the Nigerian people need support from persons like him.
Tosin revealed the reason behind his brother’s concern for the people. “It was one of the coaches who found that he had tremendous speed. Femi was a fantastic football striker but was overlooked always by the sports administration. A coach spotted his talent and told him to take up athletics. And he’s here now. You need to give someone something in your life. And Femi knows better than others.”
shan.as@newindianexpress.com