AFN strategises for 2014

—  Unveils director, activities for the year

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) yesterday unveiled the high performance director for Athletics, Mr. Henry Campbell, with a promise to unearth more talents that would do the country proud in future continental and global sporting events.
Also, a 10-man technical committee members led by AFN technical director, Navy Comodore Nesiama Omatseye, were inaugurated.
AFN president, Chief Solomon Ogba, while performing the unveiling ceremony at the Media Centre of Abuja National Stadium, remarked that a lot had been achieved by the federation, adding that no amount of criticism would deter board from setting further plans to enable the country haul more medals especially in global competitions.
He said: “Ii is wrong for people to assume that the federation didn’t do well in a particular tournament because medals were not won. For instance, in London 2012, our athletes got to the final stage of seven different sporting events. Why I am saying this is that they are some old people who think that no one can break their record and so they go a long way in trying to frustrate the good work of the federation.
“Currently, we are in the list of clean countries without drug-related connections unlike when we assumed office. Today, we are still insisting that athletes should do away with drugs to enhance their performance. Nigeria now rank among the top 19 in the world and 3rd in Africa in athletics and we are doing more to go higher. The high performance directors were hired to help work on the scientific aspect or performance of athletes,” Ogba said.
In their separate speeches, AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatseye and high performance director for athletics, Mr. Campbell, assured of their readiness to bring their experience to bear on their appointments.
Top on the number of athletic events which AFN intends to be part of in both at the continent and global levels this year include Commonwealth Games, IAAF World Indoor and Junior Championships, Golden League and Youth Olympic Games among other national competitions.