Judge me after African Championships, Commonwealth Games, Ogba

Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba said during the week that he and his members are working to ensure that Nigeria post good results at the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games billed for July and August respectively.

Ogba was speaking against the background of dwindling athletics fortunes for Nigeria at international events.
“I have studied our past results at the last African Championships and Commonwealth Games. We are going to surpass them. If we don’t perform later in the year, then Nigerians can start talking,” said Ogba.

He submitted that the AFN was monitoring its top athletes and also ensuring that they remain in top condition for  both events, adding that the federation will leave no stone unturned, to ensure that Nigerian athletes are adequately prepared for the events.

He noted that there are lots of athletics talents in the country, but coaches were doing little to spot and groom them.
“Our coaches are not doing well just like their football counterparts. There are many new things that have helped advance athletes in other countries, but here in Nigerian our coaches do not know much about the new developments.”

Ogba added that the states are not also doing enough to encourage athletics in their domain.
“Apart from Delta and may be Ogun. Not many states are doing much in terms of grassroots development. The AFN is like a factory and if there are no raw materials, there is nothing much to manufacture,” said Ogba.