Former American-Nigerian athlete announces he is Nigeria's sprints coach to Budapest

Monzavous Edwards at the 2014 Afrian Championships in Marrakech

Former American-Nigerian athlete announces he is Nigeria's sprints coach to Budapest

Funmilayo Fameso 14:45 - 25.04.2023

Unknown Nigerian representatives met with Monzavous Edwards, convincing him to become Nigeria's sprints coach to the World Championships in Budapest.

A former Nigerian sprinter of American descent, Monzavous 'Rae' Edwards, has announced he is Nigerian sprints coach to the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

Edwards announces himself as Nigeria's sprints coach to Budapest
Monzavous Edwards

Edwards made this known via his Twitter page by first tweeting on being contacted and confirming it hours later.

"Looks like my name just went into the hat for the Sprint Coach for a Team for Budapest and it ain't America...Details coming late this evening after I have this meeting with them at 12:30. They flew all the way to Dallas to meet with me so I'd say it looks promising!"

Hours after this, he confirmed the country that had contacted him with a Nigerian emoji flag. Then later on posted a video that the representatives of this country are calling out Team USA's men's relay team, and are bringing their whole relay team to America.

"It's getting bad out here people! Team USA y'all got folks even calling out y'all men's relay now! These folks say they'll bring they whole Relay to America with no problem to face y'all...At one point we were feared...now they call y'all out! DAMN JACK!," his caption wrote.

Who is Monzavous 'Rae' Edwards

Edwards is a former American sprinter recruited and switched nationalities to represent Nigeria in 2014. He attended the 2014 Nigerian trials in Warri, where he finished second in the 100m final in a time of 10.39s (-2.3m/s headwind).

In an exclusive interview with Making of Champions, Edwards stated that he switched because of not being appreciated in the US and has his Nigerian origin is from his great-great-grandparents.

"It was an appreciation for the sport and more of an appreciation of me as an athlete and a sprinter. In America, there’s so much competition that it is hard to be appreciated for all the hard work that you put in. And having the chance to get with my family and switch to Nigeria. Since I’ve made that switch, I’ve felt more than appreciated as a professional athlete. So that was the main reason for it.

"It’s from my grandparents. Actually, it’s from my great-great-grandparents, if I said that right. Let me see…1, 2 (counts on his fingers)…yeah I said it right," said Edwards.

Edwards won 100m bronze medal at the 2014 African Championships in Marrakech
Monzavous Edwards

Then 33 years old, he represented Nigeria at the 2014 African Championships in Marrakech alongside other recruited American athletes called 'Naijamericans', where he won a Bronze medal in the 100m flat and a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. 

His hopes of participating at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games were dashed, when the Nigerian Olympic Committee failed to submit his name before the entry deadline.

Edwards set to coach Nigeria's sprints team to the World Championships in Budapest
Monzavous Edwards

Since retirement, Edwards has been in and out of coaching, is co-owner of a gym called Olympic Fit Gym, and owns a YouTube channel called Raes Take TV.

Noteworthy is that since the 2016 incident, the 41-year-old has not affiliated with being a Nigerian or done anything concerning Nigerian athletics.

AFN board member denies Edwards appointment

Pulse Sports spoke to an AFN board member, and he stated the board didn't agree neither was he aware of any appointment.

So who were the people that flew to Dallas, Texas, and had the meeting with Edwards? Fingers crossed! Trust Pulse Sports to keep you updated as events unfold.

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