The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has condoled with the family of Kazeem Adeyemi, a men’s 20km Race Walk National Champion, who died on Tuesday after he slumped while jogging.
AFN factional president, Ibrahim Gusau, in a statement issued by the association’s Director-General, Mr Young Pepple, on Sunday described Adeyemi as a national sports asset.
“The death of Adeyemi is sad, especially at this time when the federation is putting plans in place to encourage our good athletes to take to coaching in order to boost coaching in all events.
“To lose such a dedicated and hardworking athlete, who showed great consistency, is a very great loss to the federation in particular and the nation in general,” he said.
Gusau prayed Allah to grant the departed soul eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Adeyemi, till his death, represented the Nigeria Police Force where he served for 11 years and was a Sergeant at the Ikoyi Division in Lagos State.
Born on March 1, 1985, he recorded the following Personal Bests (PBs): 10,000m Race Walk (43:30:43) Nsukka, Nigeria 2012; 10km Race Walk (48:37) Onitsha, Nigeria 2015.
He also recorded 20,000m Race Walk (1:35:15.76) Calabar, Nigeria 2017; 20km Race Walk (1:34:05) Abuja, Nigeria 2014.
Adeyemi among other international championships represented Nigeria in the 20km Race Walk at the 2003 All-African Games in Abuja where he placed fifth.
He was buried according to Islamic rites on Wednesday at the Agege Cemetery, Lagos State, and was survived by a wife and three children. (NAN)
