Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN has been forced to move the 3rd leg of the Golden League meet from Kaduna to Port Harcourt following threats posed to human life by the terrorists activities in several northern Nigerian cities.

The federation’s technical coordinator, Yusuf Alli disclosed in Lagos that taking the athletes to Kaduna was a risk officials were not willing to take considering the volatile situation there.

“We do not want to take the risk of going to Kaduna. Too many lives have been lost and we reasoned that taking the athletes there is like putting their lives in danger.

“This is particularly when the mode of dressing of the female athletes during competitions have always provoked negative reactions in that part of the country,” stated the former Africa long jump champion.

The first leg of the Golden League began in Port Harcourt and was last weekend organised in Akure. On May 19 it will return to Port Harcourt and then Lagos on May 26 before berthing in Warri on June 6 when the final leg will be decided.

Pastor Olukoya U-18: AFN tasks grassroots coaches

A challenge has been thrown to Nigerian coaches to beat the prevailing conditions in the country and discover more grassroots athletes.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Chief Solomon Ogba made the charge as the Pastor D.K Olukoya Under-18 championships draws to a close today at the Yaba College of Technology sports ground in Lagos. Chief Ogba noted that Nigeria was struggling to make a mark in athletics currently, because coaches were no longer producing quality athletes from the grassroots.

The former Delta State commissioner of sports acknowledged that the structures that produced athletes in the past have been destroyed but added that this should not hinder the coaches from working.

“In the past there was school sports. And not just that, there were equipment in these schools. Today how many schools can boast of athletics equipment? We have a problem in our hands.

But this is a challenge to our coaches to keep working in their localities so that we can at least have some fresh talents,” said the AFN boss.

Bekele targets Olympics treble

After spending almost three years on the sidelines double Olympic Champion and world record holder in 5000m and 10,000m Kenenisa Bekele feels strong enough again to begin his quest for yet another

“I am injury-free and feeling good and happy again. This will be my first race and I feel fresh to push hard. I want to test myself against very good runners” says Bekele who started the outdoor season with an easy victory at the Great Ireland Run 10k, where he also smashed the course record. He will now try to win both the long distant races (5000m and 10,000m) in London, as he did four years ago in Beijing:

Nigeria plans big for African Championships

Nigerian athletics officials have plans to storm the African Championships happening June 26- July 6 in neighboring Benin Republic with a big delegation.

This is with the aim of re-establishing its dominance of the sport in Africa and also test the preparedness of Nigerian athletes for the London 2012 Olympics.

“We have South Africa, Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia as strong contenders, but we are going there to top the table this time,” said Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba.

“If we come first or second it will be a measure of our readiness for the London 2012 Olympics.