We Need Exposure, Encouragement -Nigerian Athletes

Two Nigerian athletes have said that exposure and encouragement by sports authorities are crucial for Nigerian athletes to excel at international sporting events.

Two of Team Nigeria’s athletes at the ongoing London Olympics, Omolara Omotosho and Regina George, gave the advice in separate interviews with newsmen in London.

The athletes spoke after they lost out in the women’s 400 metres semi-finals of the Games, after posting encouraging performances a day earlier.

“We want more exposure and encouragement. That is something that will help more Nigerian athletes and it will help us to do better at international competitions,” 19-year-old Omotosho stated.

Omotosho who returned from a two-year doping suspension before going on to represent Nigeria at the All-Africa Games in 2011 said that Nigerian athletes needed help.

“It is glaring that we can do better with more exposure and I will implore the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the others to do something in this regard,” she said.

George agreed with Omotosho’s submissions, saying she was hopeful of getting more support to be able to appear in future international meets.

“I am looking forward to running more after the Olympics. That is how I can keep up my performance and more support will be needed for this,” she said. George had competed for the US at the World Junior Relays in 2010 but she later opted to switch allegiance to Nigeria since she has dual citizenship.

The student of Psychology at the University of Arkansas was cleared to compete for Nigeria last June.