• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Citi TV
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana
No Result
View All Result

New Kiwi sprint sensation Edward Osei-Nketia could be lost to Australia…or rugby [Article]

Godwin Akweiteh AlloteybyGodwin Akweiteh Allotey
May 17, 2019
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Edward Osei-Nketia has a range of suitors after his stunning sprinting success. Photo credit: Getty

Edward Osei-Nketia has a range of suitors after his stunning sprinting success. Photo credit: Getty

ShareShareShareShare

Catch him while you can because teenage Kiwi sprint sensation Edward Osei-Nketia could be lost to rugby, or Australia.

The 17-year-old Osei-Nketia, son of New Zealand record holder, Gus Nketia, hit the headlines this weekend by winning the Australian senior 100m title in Sydney.

He is now believed to be the world’s second-fastest current junior (under-20), his Sydney semifinal time of 10.19s behind only 18-year-old Jamaican Oblique Seville’s 10.13s.​

A New Zealand Athletics official admitted that while Osei-Nketia is considered a Kiwi by the IAAF for now, it is “open slather” for his services, with rugby also well in the frame.

His father, from Ghana, shifted to New Zealand after the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games and went on to wear black at the 1996 Olympics.​

Osei-Nketia, who has attended Scots College in Wellington on a scholarship this year, spent the eight previous years in Australia, where he first started sprinting. Following his amazing victory at Sydney’s Olympic Park, the big flyer revealed Aussie officials have approached him about running in the green and gold.

The moment of truth will probably come in July next year at the world junior championships in Kenya. He would be locked in to whichever country he represented there with any subsequent switch requiring a difficult transfer process.

Edward Osei-Nketia became Australia’s fastest man after winning the men’s 100m title in Sydney.
Photo credit: Getty

The youngster told Radio Sport: “Yesterday, they [Australian officials] asked me if there would be a chance I’ll represent Australia. I said I don’t know.”

When asked by Radio Sport if he would run for Australia, Osei-Nketia said: “Who knows?”

He is a rugby try scoring machine on the wing for his school, and the Hurricanes are reported to be interested. On athletics v rugby, Osei-Nketia is “weighing” both and will make a decision after leaving school.
​
“It would be hard to try for the Olympics and also train for rugby,” he said.

Osei-Nketia is now the fourth-ranked all-time Kiwi 100m sprinter, behind his dad, Chris Donaldson and Joseph Millar. His Sydney time sets a new New Zealand under-18, under-19 and under-20 mark. (He is no longer regarded as under-18 by the IAAF, because he turns 18 this year).

New Zealand rarely reaches such levels in world junior athletics, an obvious exception being former world No 1 shot put exponent Jacko Gill from Devonport.

The only Kiwi to make a world junior 100m final was Dean Wise, 23 years ago.

But athletics observers believe Osei-Nketia will struggle in the 100m at senior level, because of his bulk and slow starts. He shapes as a much better 200m exponent while his brother Gus jnr is said to be an outstanding 400m prospect.

Osei-Nketia was born in Auckland and the family moved to Canberra when he was 10.
In January, he said: “My heart, it belongs to the Kiwis.”

NZA statistician Dr Steve Hollings, a 1972 British Olympic steeplechaser, has had extensive communications with the Nketias about eligibility and said: “He was born here and has a New Zealand passport but has done all his running over there. It’s interesting because in the first correspondence I had with Gus, Edward still had a strong feeling for rugby.

“It is up to him to choose one country or the other … it is open slather until he decides.

“It would be silly of New Zealand not to [make a big play for him]. And it may well be that Australia is making a move.

“It is going to be very interesting, with New Zealand v Australia and athletics v rugby. The situation is very fluid.”

ShareTweetSendSend
Previous Post

Joyce Blessing wins 2019 Maranatha Global Worship Music Awards in Kenya

Next Post

Parliament to reconvene on May 28

Related Posts

Sports

2022 WC: Ghana drawn in Group H with Portugal, Uruguay

April 1, 2022
Sports

Black Stars Head coach, Milovan Rajevac sacked

January 22, 2022
Sports

Preview: Black Stars begin AFCON 2021 campaign against Morocco today

January 10, 2022
Sports

Head coach, PRO of Baffour Soccer Academy pass on days after road crash

October 30, 2021
Sports

Milovan Rajevac arrives at GFA ahead of imminent reappointment as Black Stars head coach

September 24, 2021
Sports

We’ve not agreed to pay Milovan Rajevac $45,000 salary – Sports Ministry

September 23, 2021
Next Post

Parliament to reconvene on May 28

TOP STORIES

Niger eliminates Black Galaxies from CHAN 2022

January 28, 2023

Wassa Agona robbery: Police arrest four suspects

January 28, 2023

NDC national officers rushed with Minority leadership shake-up – Mahama Ayariga

January 28, 2023
Load More
ADVERTISEMENT
Citinewsroom – Comprehensive News in Ghana

CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative, alternative news that challenges the status quo.

Archives

Download App

Download

Download

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Citi TV

© 2021 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Showbiz
  • Coronavirus
  • Infographics
  • Livestream
  • Videos

© 2021 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT