Tokyo 2020: AFA Sports celebrates Nigerian athletes

Photo: Sports minister, Sunday Dare (right) unveiling the AFA Sports kits of Team Nigeria before the Tokyo games.

The management of AFA Sports is celebrating the Nigerian spirit as shown with Nigerian athletes at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The wholly Nigerian brand served as the apparel partner to the Nigerian contingent.

The Chief Executive Officer of AFA Sports, Ugo Udezue who spoke on Thursday said as a former national athlete he could identify with the aspiration of those who represented the country in Tokyo; could feel their pains while believing that the future remains still bright for the athletes and Nigeria sports.

Udezue said, “They all arrived in Tokyo with the determination to do the country proud and they have been able to put in their best. Every event has just medals for the top three athletes but the spirit of the Games is to compete spiritedly and respectfully.

“To those who have finished their term at this stage we say congratulations and for those looking forward to Paris 2024, we stand by you all the way.”

The AFA CEO is also highly delighted that the continent of Africa was able to take a huge position at the Olympics with AFA Sports being the first wholly African manufacturer to kit a national delegation at the Games.

Udezue said his company remains grateful to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the NOC and the athletes for daring to support the growth of the indigenous firms.

Udezue said, “The sports ministry canvassed the country for a local kit manufacturer from Aba to Lagos. They visited over 10 operations and AFA stood out. That was how we became a part of the big dream. “We did not solicit for this. The administration was determined on using the Olympic platform to promote local brands and this is all good for the Nigerian industry.

“I never met the sports minister until this time and the inspection was practically impromptu and so we were seen as we are. He and his team were armed with the right questions. He personally researched every fabric and every product. I was impressed with his knowledge and the due diligence followed.

“This is how AFA Sports became the apparel partner to the Nigerian team.

“We believe in the long term plan to make AFA Sports and other Nigerian manufacturers become world brands. We may not all be counting in millions of dollars now but we are determined to empower Nigerians in our production, distribution, sales and other opportunities as no foreign outfit would do.”

AFA Sports has a long standing tradition of support to Nigerian teams which first began with providing apparels for D’Tigers and D’Tigress to the Afrobasket and the World Cup games, then Nigeria’s men and women volleyball teams, the Para-powerlifting federation, the first ever African Knockout involving mixed martial arts and down to local athletes. It has all been fulfilling times with the teams, athletes and the federations.

As a brand that has been conscientious to the needs of Nigerian and African athletes, just as when it developed the Humid-resist-fabric to keep the body cool in Africa’s extreme humidity, AFA Sports conducted an extensive research on the Japanese climate in order to curate the best performance fabrics for the Olympics team where the margins of success can come down to the athletics products.

The research necessitated AFA Sports sourcing the best locally available fabrics and in some cases developed completely new concepts thereby, coming up with the best track and field products tailored exclusively for the Nigerian athlete’s best performance in the Japanese climate.