By Oluwatobiloba Kumoye in Abeokuta
Terrific US-base Nigerian hurdIer, Divine Bamgboye, a member of Team Nigeria to the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA), U-18/U20 has promised to leave her mark on the track in Abeokuta and make her voice heard across the continent.
She gave this assurance on Thursday in an interview stating that gold is her favourite metal, and she will do everything within her power to secure it on Friday during the U-20 hurdles final.
Bamgboye explained that she is feeling a bit nervous, but is very confident that victory is within her reach.
“I expect to win gold, it’s nerve-racking, I feel very nervous, I’m very optimistic, I think I can do it, I think it’s within reach,” she said.
Divine Bamgboye, who is the niece of the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Sports Commission, Honourable Lanre Ogunyinka, stressed that love for athletics is embedded within her and is a motivating factor for her.
“I love hurdles, ever since I tried out the sport, everything has been going great for me, I like to win too, everything has been falling in place for me. Athletics was my first love, although I tried other sports but I didn’t really enjoy it,” the 18 year old athlete stated.
Bamgboye, an acute lover of Nigerian delicacies and attires went on to state that she has been training really hard for the past three weeks ahead of this event.
Bamgboye, who was born in the Rock City, Abeokuta, called on athletics lovers across the continent to watch out as she let it all out on the track.
Bamgboye, who just finished from Urbana High School in the United States of America noted that her family has been her backbone and pillar of strength.
She commended the Nigeria Sports Commission, (NSC), the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN), and the Ogun State Sports Commission, for hosting and organising the continental showpiece.
She showered praises on the organisers for the new Puma kit, highlighting that it fits her style and it will play a pivotal role in her victory during the Final.
“The organisers are doing a good job, since the event started I haven’t seen any flaws or difficulties. I love the new Puma kit a lot, it’s really nice and I like the colours too,” she added.