Sports

We will continue to organise more grassroots Athletics competitions-Ameh

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

The organiser of the maiden edition of athletics competition , Christopher Ameh said they will continue to organise more athletics competitions to discover raw talent that will represent the country in major International competitions.

Ameh disclosed this on Saturday to newsmen at the closing ceremony of the two days athletics competitions at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The event is organised by OSI Sports Foundation in collaboration with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN)
Ameh who is also the founder of ‘OSI Sports Foundation’ which is a non profitable organisation said the mission and vision of the foundation is to give nigerian youth a better life in the future.

According to him, the essence of the competition is to take kids away from the street so as to reduce the rate of crime and atrocity in the country.

“I’m a coach a train kids in Abuja, Kaduna and Katsina, this is all about grassroots competition to discover and to prepare young athletes for future engagement.

“We were able discover some talents that we will continue to work on them , to give them an opportunity to have a better education.

“The government can not do it alone this is our way of contributing to the society,” he said.

The organiser said it is necessary to invest in athletes so that they will give back to the nation a fruitful results in the future.

“Athletes like Tomi Amusa, Ese Brume started like this, they were discover in a grassroots event land today they are making the country proud.

“This is because some people invested in them and today everybody is proud of them.

“We need the support of rich nigerian, phylantropists and private organisations to invest in athletics ,”he said
Speaking after the competition, the winner of the women category 800m Helen Mamman said she is happy that she won the run.

“This is my first time of running 800m in four years now. I did not believe I could win the race.

“Now I run 5,000 to 10,000km, I need to work more on my run so that I will be able to run faster than this.

“This is one of event that athletes need to be doing time to time, we lack constant competitions that will make us better and prepare us for International events.
“If we can get more sponsors to organise constant events for us, we the athletes will be grateful,”she said

Ibrahim Sani, the winner of 800m in the men category said he decided to participate in the competition to measure his ability.
“Regular event will make us to be focus and serious in any competition, we don’t want once in a year competition.

“If we can have a competition like this five time in a year it will improve our performance,” he said.

The events are 100m 400 and 800m , long jump ,short jump, discus throw, shot put discus, javelin among others.

The two days event which started on Friday ended on Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium
NAN.

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Sports

FIFA MA Course: Gusau, FIFA instructors harp on hard work, integrity and fraternity

Published

5 hours ago

June 19, 2025

The Gleamer

The two-week FIFA Member Associations Course for physical and technical instructors, and Young Talents came to a close in Abuja on Thursday with FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed publicly declaring his confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s budding arbiters to reach unprecedented heights in the vocation globally.

The physical and technical instructors’ course was activated between 9^th – 13^thJune, while the Young Talents programme lasted between Sunday, 15^th – Thursday, 19^th June 2025.

President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), who also doubles as President of WAFU B, told the young talents to endeavour to put all they have learnt during the course into practice, as the Federation is in the process of elevating more of the young talents to take on higher responsibilities, such as handling matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

“I am happy that now, we have a total of 86 young talents in our refereeing pool. This deeply gladdens my heart. Last year, we had 40 people undertake this course, and this year, we have 46. Let me reveal to you that 10 of those young talents from last year have been elevated to the NPFL, and none of them was found wanting throughout the season.

“Their record of performance gives great hope to yourselves, and also shows that the NFF is right in our commitment to the young talents. However, in order to keep improving, I charge you to always find ways to fraternize, collaborate in all aspects, and bond together to jointly and severally enhance your capacities.”

Mohamed, who is from Somalia, said: “I am very satisfied with the group that we worked with over the past one week – the young talents. Their level of assimilation is very high and I see them going places in the work of refereeing. Please always have integrity at the back of your mind in whatever you do.

“We know Nigeria is everywhere, qualifying for all major tournaments and winning trophies and putting up podium performances here and there. But it will also be good to have Nigerian referees not only in the AFCON but also at the FIFA World Cup. Having worked with these young ones for the past one week, I can tell you with assurance that the future of Nigerian refereeing is in very good hands.”

President of NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu thanked FIFA and the NFF for the success of the programme, and asserted that the growing confidence in Nigerian referees at home and abroad can be traced to the support that the referees continue to get from the NFF for their capacity-enhancing programmes, and the intentionality of the NFF President.

FIFA Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi from Tunisia was also present at the closing ceremony, as well as Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Cecilia Ugbuji, Emmanuel Imiere, Stella Emoji and Promise Uwaeme.

There were also President of the NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu; Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Madam Faith Irabor; deputy chairman Rafiu Umar Gusau; members of the committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, Calistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, Dr Bello Mohammed, Abraham Zakowi, Waziri Abba Gawe and secretary, Mohammed Ameenu; NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire and; Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Isah Ladan Bosso.

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