By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-02-03 03:36:21
The Pre-Africa Games Event, organized by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), is set to conclude today in Abuja. The Chairman of the Competitions Organizing Committee, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd), has called upon all stakeholders to support the federation in achieving its goal of delivering the best-ever results at the upcoming Africa Games in Ghana and the Olympic Games in Paris, France. Nesiama emphasized the need for unity and cooperation among members of the federation to work towards these ambitious targets.
Nesiama addressed what he considered to be misinformation disseminated by certain board members, who have been accused of inciting athletes against the federation. He stressed that the current committee is operating under a fresh mandate and is dedicated to following best practices to achieve its objectives. Responding to concerns raised about the prize money for the Federation’s Evaluation Meets, Nesiama highlighted the importance of demonstrating the federation’s ability to organize high-quality competitions with limited resources. He also expressed confidence in the competence and capabilities of the committees appointed by the AFN board.
AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, echoed Nesiama’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of remaining focused and undistracted amidst the impending Africa Games and Olympics. He urged those seeking to cause disruption within the board or distract athletes from their preparations to refrain from doing so. Okowa emphasized the need for the athletes to be able to concentrate fully as they prepare to enter training camps ahead of the upcoming competitions.
The AFN’s Evaluation Meets began with the 5000m events and have seen the participation of over 500 athletes from 27 states and various Athletics Clubs. Veteran 400m runner, Patience Okon George, was among the top athletes in attendance. The purpose of the competition is to select athletes for the AFN camp for the Africa Games. AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, expressed satisfaction with the athletes’ response to the event, noting their hunger and enthusiasm for competition.
Onikeku also indicated that the final day of the event would see more action, including the 400m and 200m finals for both men and women, as well as the 400m hurdles and various sprint events. The AFN Evaluation Meets mark the first pre-Africa Games competitions and serve as a critical platform for identifying and selecting athletes for the upcoming international events.
In conclusion, Nesiama and Okowa have called for unity, focus, and support from all stakeholders in order to achieve the federation’s goals of delivering exceptional results at the Africa Games and the Olympics. The Evaluation Meets have been deemed successful in terms of athlete participation and enthusiasm, setting the stage for the selection of athletes for further training and preparation. The AFN remains committed to working towards its objectives and is determined to provide its athletes with the best possible opportunities for success on the international stage.
