NIGERIA ATHLETICS: 9 Days To African Junior Atletics Championship Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2015. Is Athletics Federation Of Nigeria Ready?
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria recently named 34 Athletes who will be representing the country at the 12th African Junior Athletics Championship Addis Ababa 2015 in Ethiopia but the preparation towards this event remain questionable as the Athletes bemoan the state of their camp base in Sagamu Ogun State.
Having done well for Nigeria in the past Cadets African Athletics events, the Nigerian Athletes will be flying the Nation's flag in the capital city of Ethiopia from 4th to 8th of March as they aim to continue their glorious outing on the continent.
On Wednesday morning, I and a correspondent from one of the most sought-after leading Newspaper in Nigeria New Telegraph met at the National camp ground of the Athletes, what we witnessed was very hard on our eyes, the Athletes complained of no power supply for the past two days, camp allowances, kits, poor accomodation arrangement and below standard feeding system.
Some of the Athletes who spoke to us pleaded to be anonymous while claiming they have been in darkness for two days thus they were unable to fetch water for proper bathing and washing of their belongings, were unable to communicate with their family and loved ones because there was no electricity to power their phones and other gadgets.
"We have have been in this camp now for few days but the camping experience is not something worthwhile.
"As an Athletes we are suppose to take our bath at least twice a day since we train twice a day, that is in the morning and in the evening after the second training, but we find this difficult to do because there's lack of water, we have to trek a long distance before we can get water.
Another Athlete who also preferred to remain unknown talked on the poor accommodation and feeding system.
"As you can see some of the facilities in the hostel are not working, the mattresses are very flat, no water to flush, so we have decided to be using the bush for now till they find a lasting solution to this challenge.
"The feeding system is not palatable at all, I wouldn't like to mention or talk about the quality of the food we eat here, we just hope that something drastic is done", the athlete told olawalequadry.blogspot.com.
The Coaches Coordinator Seigha Porbeni and the Camp commandant Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo spoke on the steps they have taking to make the camp a home for the Junior Athletes.
Porbeni who shared in the Athletes pains calmly said that the issue of electricity in Nigeria remain a general problem but they are already trying to find a solution to the big challenge.
He said “When the president of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, and the minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, visited the athletes on Valentine’s Day, they promised to supply us diesel and we are trying to remind them to fulfill their promise. Hopefully it will be resolved soon,” he revealed.
The 1996 Atlanta Silver medalist, Ogunkoya spoke on other issues facing the athletes and she opined those issues would be sorted out in no time by the AFN, she further stated the visit of the minister of sports to their camp on Valentine's day gave room for the AFN to express their feelings on the challenges facing them.
She said “We have been getting food for the athletes and hopefully everything would be resolved soon.
“When the minister visited us, he was informed about our challenges because the competition must go on and the athletes must prepare. I
can tell you this is the shortest camping we have ever had, that is why we have been tasking the athletes to train twice a day to cover up for the lost time.” she concluded.
The 34 male and female squad Nigerian athletes and eight coaches will be participating in the following events, 100/200 m, 4 x100m relay boys and girls, 400 x 4 x 400m rely boys and girls, 110 m hurdles, 100 m hurdles , 400 m hurdles boys and girls, high jump, long jump boys and girls, javelin and shotput.
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