Former Nigeria international and coordinator of the Cross Rivers State grassroots athletics development programme, Bruce Ijirigho has berated the Athletics Federation of Nigeria over mix-up in the dates for the Pastor D. K. Olukoya Under-16 and Under-18 Athletics Championships.

The 18th annual inter-house sports competition of the Olatunde Lawrence Memorial Schools, Nursary and Primary held at the Gaskiya Estate Mini Stadium, Lagos. Ikamt Babatunde of yellow house leading Okpe Sarah of green house and Latifat Ibrahim in the 50m girls event for nursary pupils. Photo by Sylva Eleanya.

Ijirigho stated that by moving the dates from the earlier scheduled March 25 the AFN has simply bungled the competition. He argued that students who are the target of competition would writing their exams stressing that many athletes would be forced to stay away.

He said that Cross River had assemble its athletes on March 23 and just as they were boarding the bus that would take them to Lagos, they were informed of the cancellation of the championships.

“I was devastated and so were the kids. The following day, I consoled and sent them back to their various schools to prepare for their examinations, including WAEC and to continue their training.

“On March 28, I called the AFN secretary again and was told that the competition will now hold on Tuesday and Wednesday April 5 and 6, 2011.  These dates are unacceptable and reveal the insensitivity of the AFN to the educational aspirations of our youths.

He argued that AFN officials shifted the competition to April, because they were unable to secure Yaba College of Technology venue when they failed to pay ahead. The AFN had argued that only six states entered for the event on the March 25 date.

“ How can the AFN justify its existence or relevance if the only national age group competition on its calendar which was scheduled one year in advance could not be publicized enough to elicit more than 6 entries.

“In contrast, does the AFN know that the national age group championship in Jamaica every April is always over-subscribed and the stadium seats sold out months ahead of the competition? “Should we look further to explain why the sport is dead in our country while other nations are thriving?  No athletics in the schools and no competitions in the states or nationally.  What a shame!!  We need a messiah to take us to the Promised Land in sports,” Ijirigho fumed.

He concluded that the AFN was not taking the advantage of the numerous IAAF programs available for the development of athletics around the world.

“This is totally unacceptable. The missed opportunities are too numerous to count and it is now time to reverse the trend.”