By Jude Opara, Abuja
As the Nigerian contingent to the forthcoming All Africa Games gets set to travel for the sporting fiesta, the Para-athletes and officials have promised to give the country quality representation in their various events.

File photo: Cross Section of Nigeria’s Paralympians

Para- athletics coach and former 100 metres world record holder, Adesoji Adekunle told journalists in Abuja over the weekend that he has adequately prepared his athletes to give in their best at the championship.

“We in the Para-athletics are promising Nigerians that we are going to return from Congo with  medals. For now I cannot say the number of medals to expect but we will surely do well, it is a promise.”

According to him, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has given the athletes and coaches all they needed to adequately compete for honours including training kits and logistics adding that the entire contingent is in high spirit.

Adekunle however advised the athletes not to indulge in drugs because it will only bring shame to them and to the entire country.

“I will not advise anybody including none athletes to go to drug because it will damage your image, damage the image of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and that of the country. All that a good athlete needs to do is to adequately prepare for the games by training hard and putting his mind in a competition mood.”

He expressed confidence that the position of the Director General of the NSC, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, a former athlete will really make it easier for the administrators and the athletes to communicate understand each other better.