Four years after head coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Armelia Edet was forced into retirement, the federation has been unable to find a replacement.

And this, in no small measure, contributes to the lack of co-ordination witnessed in the Nigerian athletics team when they go out for international competitions.

When Miss Edet made way, several names such as Patience Itanyi, Gabriel Okon, Tony Osheku, Lati Micheal Obisesan and Gad Onumegbu, were speculated as the contenders to take over the position, but checks at the AFN revealed that it would take a long time for the AFN to have a head coach unless the National Sports Commission dusts up the file and begin the process of employing a new coach.

“We have written to the Sports ministry, but we haven’t heard anything from them. The ministry is to authorise the appointment of a head coach and until they give us the go ahead there is nothing we can do now,” said a top official of the federation.

Speaking on the development, coach Edet expressed surprise that the federation could go on for so long without a head coach.

“I don’t know why we have not had a head coach. They hurried me into retirement, I have not seen the change they were yearning for.

“You would want to ask where are all those that were fighting to take over? Perhaps the AFN president and Patrick Ekeji would best answer why we haven’t had a head coach yet,” stated Edet.