Coach Tony Osheku has called on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria not rest on its successful outing in Nairobi as attention is focused on the 2010 Commonwealth Games starting October 3 in New Delhi India.

Osheku urged the AFN to begin preparations right away, if they hope win medals in India. This is because other countries will present stiff competition in areas where Nigeria is banking to win.

“ The AFN must get preparations going if Nigeria wants to do very well in India. The athletes have to raise the bar, they have to improve if they want to compete with Jamaica, Australia, England, South Africa and the others.

“ We have to start working on all our relays especially the men if we want to win more medals. Remember that the wind blows the hardest at the top of the mountain.

Osheku argued that Nigeria has all it takes to become a top athletics nation, if only those charged with administration of the sport do the right things.

“If only we have a solid structure in place. Nigeria will give top athletics nations a good run for their money.
“ My advice is that Nigerian should embrace developmental program. They should do away with their fire brigade approach.

“There are a lot of Usain Bolts and Michael Johnsons in Nigeria. We can only exploit their full potentials if we do the right thing,” Osheku said.

Athletes Commonwealth Games preparations on hold

Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials and the National Sports Commission are yet to work out modalities for the camping of Nigeria’s athletes ahead of the Commonwealth Games October in New Delhi, India.

It was expected that the athletes will move straight into camp, after their triumphant return from the African Championships in Nairobi, Kenya. But a member of the AFN disclosed yesterday that preparations for New Delhi 2010 will not commence until the AFN and the NSC have worked the modalities.

“We would have preferred to go straight into camp to prepare for the Commonwealth Games. But this is not going to happen, until we meet with the NSC and work out a plan. It is like a joint venture between the AFN and the NSC,” said the official yesterday.

It was gathered that the AFN is yet to receive any form of funding from the NSC towards preparations for the Commonwealth Games. The AFN was responsible for the last camping exercise in Oghara, Delta State.
Nigeria placed second behind the hosts Kenya in the African Championships with eight gold medals.

However, it remain to be seen if the country’s athletes can repeat the same at the New Delhi Games, if the NSC does not act fast by providing funding.

Idowu looking forward to New Delhi 2010

His peers might be dropping like flies but world and European champion Phillips Idowu has vowed to defend his triple jump title at October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The 31-year-old, who captured European gold in Barcelona last week, has confirmed he will make the trip to India despite a host of his Great Britain teammates turning their backs on the quadrennial event.

With persistent security fears plaguing the sub-continent and reports of shambolic preparations emanating from the Indian capital a number of sporting bodies are apprehensive about making the trip.

With regards to track and field, the problem is exacerbated with Delhi 2010 expected to impinge on indoor season preparations, prompting the likes of Jessica Ennis, Jenny Meadows and Michael Rimmer to swerve east this autumn. On an international level, sprint king Usain Bolt never has any intention of competing in Delhi, according to coach Glen Mills. But Idowu, who won Commonwealth Games gold in Melbourne four years ago, is adamant he will don the England vest in October.

“I’m looking forward to going out and defending my title,” he said. “It’s great to pull on an England vest. I won my first major championship gold at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, so the event means a lot to me.”