Sports
Onikeku rates 2022 AFN C/wealth Games, World Championship trials high
Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN, Technical Director of Samuel Onikeku has expressed delight over the performances of Nigerian athletes at the just concluded 2022 AFN Commonwealth Games and World Championship trials in Benin, Edo State on Sunday.
The 100m men and women events produced new champions as Favour Ashe ran 9.99s in the men’s race while Grace Nwokocha clocked 11.03s in the women’s event.
The Ex Athlete said the standard of athletics in Nigeria is drastically improving and the high spirit of competitiveness is returning to the second most popular sport in Nigeria.
While speaking on the general success of the trials, Onikeku said, “The Commonwealth Games and World Championship trials have ended well and the world has seen some superlative performances, especially in the 100m Women with the time of 11.03s while in the 100m men had a time of 9.99s.
“The last time an athlete ran a sub nine in the country was in 2003 by former National Champion, Deji Aliu; so these have made the competition go well. The Federation is excited with the performance of the 4x100m men and hopefully that they participate in the World Championship in Oregon next July.”
Onikeku revealed that plans are underway for Team Nigeria to begin camping exercises in the United States of America (USA).
“Nigeria is ready for the World Championship and plans are in progress to ensure the athletes camp in US before the World Championship begins.
“If you are observant, you will notice that our relay team has not been together for a long time; in fact they practiced just two days before the trials. Once the Federation is able to finalize plans, the relay team will spend more time together to practice and run a better time. Our target is to get to the finals first and possibly shock the world by picking a medal.”
He expressed optimism that Nigeria can win more medals at the forthcoming World Championship in Oregon.
He said, “For the World Athletics Championship, the Federation believes that the athletes will still continue to make that podium performance.
“Remember Ese Brume has been performing well in all International Championships she has been participating in, also believe that Tobi Amusan will come through because of her excellent performances in the last six months.”
“National Champion, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the shot can scale through with his current form and the present 4x100m men have a brighter prospect. The country has a very good team even with our 4x100m relay for Women and if Favour Ofili comes into the team, we will see that we have a very strong team”, he added.
Sports
NSC DG Bukola Olopade reaffirms the commitment of the Commission to Training and Retraining of Staff for Scientific Productivity
Joel Ajayi
The Director General of the National Sports Commission Hon. Bukola Olopade, has stated the commitment of the leadership of the Commission to Training and Retraining of staff for scientific productivity of Nigerian Sports.
The DG stated this when he was a surprised guest at the meeting of the newly appointed Federation Secretaries with the Director of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department (FEAD), Olumide Bamiduro.
” One of the things that myself and the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, discovered was lacking in the Commission when we were appointed is training and restraining of staff. This is why we have challenged the various Directors to go to their various departments to start looking for quality brains that we can give both local and international training and restraining to”.
” The Sports ecosystem that we are in is very dynamic and this is why alot of training and retraining will happen this year to complement the productivity and efficiency of the Commission”.
The DG also charged the Federation Secretaries to be up and doing and align themselves with the vision and mandate of the Commission especially with the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy ( RHINSE ) campaign.
” As Federation Secretaries that you all are , we are about to make history together in so many ways. For the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko and myself, our determination is to ensure that you all are given the impetus to drive the federations as Independently as you can”.
” I also want to appeal to you all that the chief operating officers,COO, that we have introduced are not here to disturb you or usurp your job. They are here to support you and I have no doubt that the symbiotic relationship that you can establish with them will only galvanize the history making approach we all have for the Commission”.
The Director of Federation of Elite Athletes Development (FEAD) , Olumide Bamiduro however thanked the DG for the surprise visit , stating that his visit further re-echoes the ongoing reforms and the commitment of the current leadership of the Sports Commission to achieve the Sporting mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR.
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