Sports
AFN Assures Athletes Of International Competitions
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has assured athletes of participation in international competitions that would enhance their preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and other world meets.
The Technical Director of AFN, Sunday Adeleye, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Abuja as the two-day All-Comers Athletics Championship ended on Saturday.
Tidesports source gathered that contrary to Nigeria’s athletics season beginning in January, the new AFN board has ensured that it will henceforth begin in November of every year with the 2017/2018 season holding on November 24 and November 25.
Adeleye said the event and other local and international competitions to be organised by the board would ensure that only the best athletes would be opportune to represent the nation in international meets.
“There is no better way to encourage athletes than creating avenues for them to compete and reward good performances. All these are to ensure that our athletes are in A-shape before the Commonwealth Games.
“The more athletes compete, the better for them. They have like three competitions after this ahead of the Commonwealth Games as four athletes will emerge from the All-Comers to go for the Classics.
“Nobody is going to Australia without meeting the AFN standard; we are not going to Australia for a Jamboree.
“We want to go there and surpass the initial medals we had record in Glasgow.
“The calibre of athletes we have are young, so they can showcase their talents and start getting in shape for international competitions,’’ he said.
The board member also said that the Golden Leagues and other competitions would be held to get the best team for the nation.
Adeleye added that all were being done to ensure that the nation got the best set of athletes to represent it at international events.
“There is hotel accommodation and winning bonuses for athletes that do well,’’ he said.
Also, the Sports Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Titus Ayodele, told newsmen: “AFN has really tried, competition is an avenue for participants to open up their body system for upcoming international competitions.’’
According to Tidesports source, over 200 male and female athletes registered to compete for different categories of track and field events.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held in Gold Coast, Australia between April 4 and April 15.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.