Ali Baba: I abandoned athletics to become a comedian

Popular stand-up comedian, Atunyota Akpobome aka Ali Baba has revealed that he left Athletics to become a comedian.

According to him at some point, he was a long jumper and also a footballer but left sports because comedy was paying his bills.

The comedian told Punch that he was a long jump medalist in secondary school and also a javelin medalist.

“I was a medallist in the long jump and then 100m senior boys, though in secondary school. I also had a medal in javelin.

“I played football for my secondary school and for my University and right now I still play football for my All-Stars team – the Galaxy.

Ali Baba said he felt football was going to give him mileage as it helped him get accommodation while he was an undergraduate.

“At some point, I felt football was going to give me a lot of mileage. When I was in school football gave me accommodation in my first year and second year, thanks to my coach, Bako back then.

He, however, pointed that these sports kill the knee which was one challenge he faced as an athlete

Ali Baba also commented on the sports administration in Nigeria.

He called on authorities to shift focus from only football and invest in other games like long jump, swimming among others.