Former high jumper, Alex Enyiazu has called on sports authorities in Nigeria to pay more attention to grassroots athletics development, if the country were to produce top quality athletes like Jamaica.

He made this call while making a donation of running shoes and clothing to All Sports Foundation in Nimo Anambra State. Enyiazu who is based in the UK stated that Nigeria was lagging behind in athletics development and this was why a country of about 160m people is relying on only one athlete.

“There are talents in Nigeria. Yet we are not seeing top quality athletes coming out of the country.

“But for individuals like Johnny Igboka of the All Sports Academy; athletics would have been totally dead.

“It shouldn’t be an individual thing. But since he has taken it up we need to support him. I have been there before and seen what he is doing, it is quite outstanding,” said Enyiazu.

He lamented that Anambra which is catchment area for athletics is doing next to nothing to harness the talents in the State.

“It is so worrying seeing a lot of talents wasting away. They are even times when these kids travel for competitions they go on their own and you see them sleeping in the open. This is really not good enough those in charge should take sports development as a priority.”