AFN resumes camp for Athletics Championship

By Ben Efe
Athletes selected by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria  to represent Nigeria at the maiden African Youth Athletics Championships billed for March 27-31 in Warri Delta State, will resume camping today in Port Harcourt Rivers State.

The athletes were selected at the Pastor D. K Olukoya Under-18 Championships held in Lagos last weekend. They will be joined by others who were penciled down at the last Nigeria Schools Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

Nigeria will be represented by 80 Under-17 junior athletes at the AYC in Warri. According to AFN  president,  Solomon Ogba the athletes will be camped for two weeks to prepare them adequately for the AYC, which he said Nigeria was not only hosting to win, but will also discover junior athletes that will form the nucleus of its grassroots development programme.

He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Pastor D.k Olukoya meet. “Everything went well and we were able to achieve our objectives of picking our team. Though we had the challenge of some of these kids writing their exams, we are working towards presenting a good team for Nigeria at the Youth Championships,” Ogba stated.

Delta emerged tops at the D.K Olukoya Championships. Delta State Sports Council boss, Mr. Pinnick Amaju stated that all the State’s athletes that can win gold for the Nigeria team for the AYC and   will awarded scholarships to further their education.

“If we don’t do something about our youth development, there will be nothing to celebrate in the future.

‘Every Delta athlete that won gold at the AYC will be rewarded. We will give them the same kind of treatment we gave to our top elite athletes,” Pinnick said.