By Francis Ajuonuma
Determined to ensure that Nigeria performs well in the athletics events of the 2022 African Youth Games (AYG) in Dakar, Senegal, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) plans to kick start its’ camping exercise as early as in January. The African Youth Games has been fixed to hold from February 27-March 6, 2022.
AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, who spoke with TNSports at the last South-west Developmental Athletics Meet held at the Sports Complex of Yaba College of Technology, said that the decision to commence the camping exercise early is to ensure that the athletes prepare well for the games.
According to the AFN boss, the national trials will hold in December and its’ outcome will serve as the basis of selection for six weeks of closing camping that will hold either in Abuja or Lagos. “In December, we’re looking at doing trials for the African Youth Games.
And by the grace of God, we’ll do the trials and try to bring them into the camp as quickly as possible in January. At least we can camp them for about six weeks, we’re sure to get good results,” he said.
“We’ll be at the games not just to participate but to win medals. We’ll go there to Senegal to participate with our best.
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It’s going to be the first event of the year and we’re looking forward to doing well,” he added. He also commended the South West Athletics Association (SWAA), led by ex-Olympian, Falilat Ogunkoya for organizing the Southwest U-18 Athletics Meet and chairman of Lagos State Athletics Association (LSAA), Dr. Solomon Also for his singlehanded sponsorship of the meet which he notes will change the face of athletics in the country for better.
“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen of the Southwest Athletics meet. I want to applaud the Southwest Athletics Association for this laudable programme. Also Solomon for putting up this together, this is the first of its kind since we came on board.
I pray and wish that the rest (zones) will do the same. “This is a grassroots sports development and that’s the way to go. Watch these kids; in no distance time they will be the future of athletics in Nigeria,” he concluded.
