AFN To Commence Trials, Feb

The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said it has fixed Feb. 18 to Feb. 23, 2013 for trials ahead of the Africa Athletic Youth Championships holding in Warri, Delta, between March and April 2013.

The Federation plans to use the All-Nigeria Secondary Schools’ Championship to test-run in readiness for the African champions.

Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, AFN Technical Director, told newsmen in Lagos at the weekend that a fitness test would also be conducted for officials and volunteers ahead of the championships.

“We have fixed Feb. 18 to Feb. 23 next year to carry out a test-run of all the facilities, the technical officials and all those that will be involved, volunteers inclusive, for the championship.

“To achieve that, I have planned to organise a technical officiating refresher course that same period between Feb. 18 and Feb. 23. The end of the refresher course will coincide with the competition to test-run the facility.

“It is after that time that we can beat our chest to say that we are fully ready or not, we still need to make one or two adjustments because we are going to test every aspect.

“The competition itself, the officials, the equipment including the timing devices.’’

Nesiama said the AFN would use the secondary schools championships in Port Harcourt in January, while some athletes from the 18th National Sports Festival would also be selected for the national team.

He warned, however, that the championships would be strictly for athletes between the ages of 16 years and 17 years, saying any athlete, who had clocked 18 years by December 2012, would not be given the chance to compete.

“It is open to youths of 16 years and 17 years old, the youth must not exceed 17 years by December 2013. It means from 16 years to 17 years can compete, 18 years old cannot.

“And we are very serious about that and that is why we are taking our preparations in that light very seriously also, in terms of a kind of selection processes we are adopting.

“We are going to use the All-Nigeria Secondary School Championships taking place in Port Harcourt early next year as one of our platforms for selection.

“And the other platform will be the National Sports Festival; we were able to get the athletes that are within the age range.’’

Nesiama also told newsmen that officials of the Africa Athletic Confederation had inspected the facilities to be used in Warri, and that they were satisfied.