By Kate Obodo
Athletics coach Tobias Igwe (a.k.a. Toblow) has declared that the National Sports Commission, NSC should have no problem supporting the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s programme for the 2012 season.

AFN president, Solomon Ogba said in Abuja recently that the nation’s athletics ruling body would need about N315 million to drive its programmes towards a successful outing at the Olympics. Toblow argued that it was a small amount of money compared to what other serious nations spend on developing their athletics yearly.

“How much is N315m this just under $2m. It is not too much, Nigeria can afford it five times over. Also there are many Nigerians in a high positions who spend more than that.

“My advise for the Federal Government and NSC is that they should provide the money for the AFN, to prosecute its progammes for the Olympics and other events on its calendar before time. I believe part of the money will go for training tour, equipment and for good accommodation. So many things the money can do for us ahead the Olympics, so it is not too much,”

He argued that Nigeria was planing to fail at the London 2012 Olympics if they don’t get their acts together even as other countries have gone far in their preparations.

“Our preparations are lagging behind. You can’t prepare an athlete without funds. We are simply working to get poor results, because by now, we are supposed to have started preparations, though individually the athletes have started but we are supposed to be in camp and be monitored by some good coaches. You can’t get good results if these things are not coming.

“As a nation of 150m people we have to do better than coming home with a bronze or two at the Olympics,” he said .

Ex-internationals laud Cross Rivers athletics programme

Cross River swept 85 percent of the athletics medals at the National School Sports Festival recently concluded in Calabar.

And this, came as no surprise to athletics buffs who have noted the developmental programme put in place by the State governor Liyel Imoke. Cross River out-shined traditional powerhouses such as Delta, Edo and Lagos.

In the next five years, Cross River State is hoping to dominate Nigerian athletics and also supply the bulk of athletes that will represent Nigeria at international meets. Ex-internationals Chioma Ajunwa and Henry Amike gave Cross River State kudos for taking the initiative to resuscitate athletics in Nigeria.

“I really praise the State governor for what he is doing. Cross River is doing exactly what we ex-internationals have been clamouring for. If only other States can do what they are doing in Calabar, our athletics will rise again.

“They deserve what they are getting, this is because they have been working while others are sleeping. I would really encourage other states to follow suit and there would be even development,” said Ajunwa who is Nigeria’s first Olympic gold medalist. Amike who is still Nigeria’s best in 400m hurdles 24 years after, also hailed the Cross River programme.

London 2012 Olympic: Egbunike submits blue print to NSC

Former international, Innocent Egbunike has tabled his action plan for the London 2012 Olympics even as he is yet to be officially unveiled as the head coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

At the last All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique there was a mutual agreement between the AFN and the National Sports Commission, NSC, to draft Egbunuike in as head coach of the federation. This was with the aim of giving quality management to Nigerian athletes at the London 2012 event. NSC’s deputy director, Alhassan Yakmut disclosed that he is in regular touch with Egbunike with regards to preparations for the London event.

“We are regularly in touch with Egbunike. He has submitted a proposal which we are studying,” Yakmut stated.

He added that Nigeria’s preparations for the London Games was on course despite the scarcity of funds.

“We are on course, our athletes are training and we are monitoring them. There are several training programmes lined up, but it all depends on when funds will be made available. However, we have no worries about late preparations,” added Yakmut who supervises athletics.

He submitted that Nigeria’s list of athletes for the Games will be tight, because only medal potentials would be considered.

“We have a list of athletes who are potentials and these are the ones we are going to concentrate on. This is because it is not every athletics event we would be presenting athletes.”

However, a technical committee member of the AFN said they are unaware of Egbunike’s programme.

“Honestly speaking we have no information on Egbunike. It is the NSC that is taking responsibility, they have not communicated to us on that,” said the official.