Egypt, Uganda, 13 others arrive Nigeria for Warri 2013

The Local Organising Committee for the Africa Athletics Youth Championships, AYAC 2013 in Warri will begin to feel the heat of the continental event when 15 countries arrive Nigeria on Sunday for the athletics show.

Secretary of the LOC, Maria Wophill who also doubles as the scribe of Athletics Federation of Nigeria said yesterday that ‘’the full impact of the international championship will begin to dawn on us when 15 countries arrive Nigeria for the Warri event on Sunday.’’

The countries are Botswana, Namibia, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Djibouti, Guinea, Uganda, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Central Africa Republic, Liberia, Zambia, Mali and Egypt.

The other countries will arrive from Monday. Over 430 athletes from 35 countries are expected to compete in the youth event in Warri, Nigeria.

‘’It’s a championship that is expected to throw up talents that may become the stars of tomorrow and we have to thank the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for hosting such a huge event that will benefit Nigeria tremendously,” Mary Onyali said of the event that kicks off on March 27 and will end on Easter Sunday.

Veteran athletics coach, Seigha Pobeni, has said that Nigeria would present a crack team for the championships. And for  Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, AFN, Technical Director, Nigeria has started “our Rio 2016 Programme as some of the athletes we are training now will be there for the Olympic Games.”

Accreditation of  teams will be done at Excel Hotel in Warri. VIPs and the Confederation of Africa Athletics family will do theirs at the Protea Hotel, Warri.

“Warri is already agog for Africa and we want all to savour our hospitality,”Amaju Pinnick, the chairman of the LOC said.

Already, some members of the continental governing body, CAA, have arrived Warri.