Athletics future is bright in Nigeria – AFN Vice President Aku Aghazu
..Commends National Sports Commission for its collaborative support
The 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) , Aku Aghazu, has commended Nigeria track and field athletes for their performance at the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh.
Nigeria has won a total of 7 medals in Track and field including an impressive Gold medal in a fiercely contested Women’s 4x100m, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
Speaking on the performance, the AFN Vice President said the future of athletics is getting brighter in Nigeria with the quality of exciting home grown talents that are coming up and their performance in Riyadh is a further testament.
“I am so proud of our athletes here in Riyadh and what I find particularly pleasing is the fact that the bulk of these athletes are our youth athletes not the most experienced ones”.
“The bravery with which they stepped up to the start line and attacked each event is amazing. I was blown away by the showing of the quartet of the 4x100m girls. Patience Okon George, who some might consider a veteran, also represented Nigeria well, with her coming from behind Silver medal in the 400m”.
“Our 4x100m men also held their own with great zeal and patriotism, in a tightly contested field, to snatch the Bronze medal”.
She maintained that the revamped AFN under the leadership of President Tonobok Okowa, with collaborative effort from the NSC, has already started rolling out some strategic plans to improve the country’s athletics fortunes and the results in Riyadh are a reflection of that.
She assured that there is more to come and the coaches are not going to be left behind.
“I must commend the innovative ideas of the NSC chaired by Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General, Hon Bukola Olopade, that is bringing about the sweeping changes and success we’re witnessing in sports today.”
“For example, quite a number of the athletes winning medals in Riyadh were discovered from the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative, introduced by the NSC at the recently concluded National Sports Festival.”
“Our next big focus is the Commonwealth Games and judging from the outstanding showing so far here in Riyadh, I believe that our athletes will amaze the nation positively in Glasgow”, she emphasized.
