All-American and Nigeria Endurance Abinuwa will attempt to better her time in the women’s 400-meter dash in the Texas Tech Invitational on Friday, April 22nd. Abinuwa has been in fine form this season.

Okagbare, Egwero,Tosin Oke, Ajoke, Comfort Onyali, Others Gets Olympics Scholarship

 THE Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, is leaving no stone unturned towards ensuring that Team Nigeria excel at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

A great milestone was achieved recently when the NOC secured nine London 2012 Olympics scholarships for deserving Nigerian athletes. Besides the scholarships that run from May 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012, the athletes are also entitled to $1,000 monthly budget.

Leading the athletes are Blessing Okagbare, Ajoke Muizat Odumosu, Oke Oluwatosin, Egwero Ogho-Oghene and Onyali Comfort (Athletics). Usman Maryam and Zakari Hadiza (Weightlifting), Chukwumerije Chika (Taekwondo), and Akinyemi Jonathan (Canoeing).

In a letter signed by Olivier Niamkey, Section Manager, Athletes for Olympic Solidarity and addressed to the President of NOC, Engr Sani Ndanusa, it congratulated Nigeria for grabbing this rare gesture and hoped to see the beneficiaries of the scholarships flying Nigerian flag high at the London 2012 Olympics.

Secretary General of the NOC, Honorable  Tunde Popoola while unfolding this cheery news said that it was a morale booster to Team Nigeria and a confirmation of the hard work of the Olympic body to ensuring that Nigerian athletes get what belongs to them.

“I’m excited with this package. It is a pointer to good things coming our way for the London 2012 Olympics. We are committed to the welfare of Nigerian athletes and will not stop at this. It is when the athletes are comfortable that they will post good results and win medals for the country. There is no going back to a goldmine in the Olympics,” Popoola a former athlete of repute who now mans the secretariat of the NOC said.                                               

Confederation of African Athletics:

Kalkaba, Odogwu Re-elected To Lead African Athletics

Cameroonian Hamad Kalkaba Malboum was yesterday re-elected for a third, four-year term as president of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).

The retired army and his entire team that includes Nigeria’s Violet Odogwu-Nwajei (vice president) were unanimously returned unopposed for the fresh mandate that will see them through 2014 in the CAA Council.

Interestingly, the 22nd Congress of the CAA, which held at the Hotel Mont Febe in Yaounde, Cameroon, also threw the support of its 53-member nations behind the re-election bid of Senegalese Lamine Diack for another term as IAAF president. Diack who took over from Italian Primo Nebiolo as czar of world athletics after serving for several years as vice president is angling for his last term before retiring from the administration of the sport.

Speaking to the general council, Diack harped on the need for the continent to speak with one voice and always act as one big family. He was particularly happy that the general assembly saw the need in continuity by allowing the entire executive return for another term in office to continue the job of lifting the sport in the continent to meet the global challenge.

For the African continent to continue to have quality stars, Diack advocated for the return of track & field to schools.

“There is the need to bring back athletics to the schools. It was like that in the past. I am a product of the school system. As a young boy, I was a very good footballer for my school while at the same time champion in sprint and long jump. The basketball coaches also wanted me due to my skills. There were several others like that and so there was always a reservoir for bringing fresh talents. But unfortunately that is not the situation anymore in several countries in the continent,” observed the Senegalese who is aiming to retire into writing books on his experience running global track & field.

Those elected into the CAA Council include:

Hamad Kalkaba Malboum- President, Vivian Gungaram-Vice President, Violet Odogwu Nwajei-Vice President, Theophile Montcho - Vice President, David Okeyo  -Vice President, Hachicha - Vice President, Alhadji Dodou Joof- Treasurer and Lamine Faty as Secretary General.

While members are Abdurrahmane Belaid, Sarifa Abdul Magide Fagiide, Sidiq Ahmad Ibrahim, Emmanuel M’pioh, Hissene Ngaro, Beatrice Ayikoru, Dr. Harold Adams

And Pascal Sawadogo.

All the six regional presidents are also members of the CAA Council.

AFN UPDATES 2011 PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

"Find attached the correct version of the 2011 updated programme, please ignore the earlier version,"  says AFN

ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF NIGERIA'S MAJOR ATHLETICS EVENTS FOR 2011
Dates Events State Country
JANUARY
Affiliations/Registration of Clubs
FEBRUARY
18th - 19th 10km Road Race/All Nigeria All Comers Ibadan Nigeria
25th - 26th Sonny Odogwu U-16 National Championships TBD Nigeria
MARCH
6th 1st African Cross Country Championships Cape Town South Africa
TBD 5km Road Race (Schools) TBD Nigeria
16th - 26th NUGA Games, UNIBEN Edo Nigeria
18th - 19th All Nigeria All Comers/ Golden League Ijebu-Ode Nigeria
TBD 5km Road Race TBD Nigeria
20-Mar-11 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Punta Umbria Spain
25th - 26th Pastor D.K. Olukoya Under 16 and Under18 National Championships, Yaba Lagos Nigeria
APRIL
6th - 9th CRS Primary/Secondary School Sports Championships Calabar Nigeria
15th - 18th CAA Congress and Council Meeting Yaounde Cameroon
MAY
CAA Region II Junior Championships TBD TBD
6th - 7th Bishop David Oyedepo/AFN Golden League, Kaduna Kaduna Nigeria
12th - 14th Cross River/South South Athletics Championships, Calabar Cross River Nigeria
12th - 15th Africa Junior Championships Gaborone Botswana
13th - 14th NSCDC Commandant General/AFN Golden League Ado - Ekiti Nigeria
20th - 21st Pastor Enoch Adeboye/ AFN Golden League, Yaba Tech Lagos Nigeria
JUNE
3rd - 4th Chief of Naval Staff/AFN Golden league Abuja Nigeria
15th Final Golden League Warri Nigeria
23rd - 25th Nigeria/Cross River/NNPC/ExxonMobil Track and Field Championships Cross River Nigeria
29th - 9th National Sports Festival, Port Harcourt Rivers Nigeria

AFN Golden League Starts April 29-30

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has fixed April 29th and 30th as the starting date of the
2011 Chief of Naval Staff/AFN Golden League.
According to the Secretary of the AFN, Maria Wophill (Mrs.) the first leg will take place in Abuja with the second and third leg taking place in Kaduna and Lagos State respectively in May 6th -7th and 20th 21st while the final leg will take place in Warri on the 3rd and 4th of June.
It would be recalled that the 1st AFN All Comers championship which was held at the Gateway stadium in Shagamu and the Ijebu Ode stadium also in Ogun State on the 18th and 19th March was the first leg of the 2011 Golden League which was use as qualification for athletes.
The 2011 edition prize money has been increased to 2million.

Below is the AFN 2011 program as released by the federation on Friday.

ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF NIGERIA'S MAJOR ATHLETICS EVENTS FOR 2011
 
Dates                                                    Events                                                        State             Country
                                                             JANUARY
                                        
                                               Affiliations/Registration of Clubs
                                                        
                                                           FEBRUARY

18th - 19th                             10km Road Race/All Nigeria All Comers                       Ibadan            Nigeria
25th - 26th                              Sonny Odogwu U-16 National Championships              TBD              Nigeria
                                                            
                                                                MARCH

6th                                         1st African Cross Country Championships                Cape Town   SouthAfrica

                                              TBD 5km Road Race (Schools)                               TBD              Nigeria

16th - 26th                             NUGA Games, UNIBEN                                        Edo               Nigeria

18th - 19th                             All Nigeria All Comers/ Golden League                    Ijebu-Ode     Nigeria

                                              TBD 5km Road Race                                              TBD              Nigeria

20-Mar-11                            39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships,    Punta Umbria  Spain

25th - 26th                            D.K. Olukoya Under 16 and Under18 National Championship Lagos Nigeria

                                                                  APRIL

6th - 9th                                CRS Primary/Secondary School Sports Championships         Calabar  Nigeria

15th - 18th                            CAA Congress and Council Meeting                               Yaounde Cameroon

29th - 30th                            Chief of Naval Staff/AFN Golden League                        Abuja FCT  Nigeria

29th - 1st May                      CAA Region II Junior Championships                              Bamako       Mali
                                                             
                                                                  MAY

29th April -1st                      CAA Region II Junior Championships                              Bamako       Mali

6th - 7th Bishop                   David Oyedepo/AFN Golden League                              Kaduna        Nigeria

12th - 14th                        Cross River/South South Athletics Championships   Calabar Cross River Nigeria

12th - 15th                        Africa Youth Championships                                             Gaborone    Botswana

20th - 21st                        Pastor Enoch Adeboye/ AFN Golden League, Yaba Tech      Lagos      Nigeria

                                                                 JUNE

3rd - 4th                           Final Golden League                                                               Warri      Nigeria

23rd - 25th                      Nigeria/Cross River/NNPC/ExxonMobil Track and Field Championships
                                                                                                                                     Cross River Nigeria

29th -                              9th National Sports Festival,                                      Port Harcourt Rivers Nigeria

Adio Targets 2011 Greatness

Nigeria high jumper, Bayo Adio has mapped out strategies that will propel him to greatness this year.

In this chat, the long jumper revealed that missing 2010 Africa Championships in Kenya and Commonwealth Games in India last year has really propelled him to up his performance.

He expressed his determination on qualifying and earning a spot in Team Nigeria for the 2012 London Olympics Games as well as winning gold medal in the 2011 All African Games in Maputo, Mozambique later this year.

Adio who is also targeting to break the national high jump record at the 2011 Mobil further stressed that: “This is 2011 and I am doing everything possible to achieve a lot.

I have decided to intensify my training to achieve all my aspirations.

“I know we have lots of jumpers but being the best is my target and with all things being equal, I will surely achieve it all,” he said.

The Web Application Developer at Aerospace Management Group and Atlanta, Georgia also commended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)’s ability to organize three major championships without funds from government.

“I really have to commend the AFN for this feat, we all know how difficult it is to get money from government to organize championships but so far, the AFN has gone against all tide to achieve a lot this year.

“It is not easy to organize something without money but they have done three major this year, kudos should be given to them,” he said.

Nigeria Have Good Jumpers - Coach Sule

                              ( Coach Oluyomi Sule and Nigeria triple jumper, Otonye Iworima)

Nigeria jumpers in the long and triple jump have been given pass mark judging from their performances at major championships organized by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria recently.

Affirming this opinion, national long jump Coach, Oluyomi Sule said that given the necessary time frame and proper training, the sky will be the limit for Nigeria jumpers who he maintained can compete favorably with their international counterparts.

“To be fair to Nigerians, we have a lot of good jumpers in this country and believe me when I say it that they can hold their ground anywhere in the world.

“If we take 2010 into perspective, we will discover that our national jumpers did pretty well in all the international championships we attended,” reveals the Lagos based coach.

He added that: “In Kenya during the Africa Championships, Blessing Okagbare took gold in the long jump while Nkeiruka Domike took silver in the triple jump. We also saw Tosin Oke taking the triple jump gold in Kenya and also got the triple jump gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in India last year also.”

Meanwhile, Coach Sule has advised the national jumpers to brace up stressing that everyone will have to fight for shirt this time around due to the determination of jumpers discovered during the AFN All Comers series and the D.K Olukoya U-16 and 18 Championships, affirming they are very good.

“The senior athletes this time around have to brace up because the junior athletes are coming up and very determined in their aspiration to break into the team.”

Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships:

Abia, Edo Athletes Emerge Fastest Runners, As Coach Adu Commends AFN

The Maiden Edition of the Pastor D.K. Olukoya National Under-18 Athletics Championships ended yesterday at the Yaba College of technology in Lagos with Abia athlete, Harry Chukwudike emerging the fastest runner of the 2011 edition in the 100m race.

Harry reached the finish line in a time of 10.61secs to pick the gold while Rotimi Adebayo (10.88) of Buka Tigers Track Club, Ijebu Ode and Mamus Emuobonivie (10.94) of Delta State placed second and third respectively.

Chukwudike returned later yesterday to confirm that his victory in the 100m was no fluke when he also dusted the field to add the 200m title in 21.97 ahead of Rotimi Adebayo (21. 99) of Buka Tiger while Demola Adeniji (22.19) of Osheku Club placed finshed as third.

In the female version of the sprint, Isoken Wisdom of Edo athlete blasted all comers in 11.94 to emerge tops as Busola Adewale (12.36) and Bidemi Ogunlola (12.37) struggled for the silver and bronze in that order.

Just Like Chukwudike, Isoken also won the longer sprint to complete the double. She clocked 24. 61 to pick the 200m gold as Busola Adewale (25.61) settled for a second silver while Greater Tomorrow athlete, Rukayat Aweda (25.67) was contented with her bronze medal.

However, the revelation of the D.K Olukoya Athletics Meet was in the quarter mile where Ololade Durojaiye (48.78) overcomes a slow start to ease gracefully into the gold. Rivers State runners Friday Baridora and Isa Umar won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Speaking on the championships, athletics coach, Uruemu Adu said: “Let’s give it to these youths; they have proven that if given the proper training, they will be once that will represent the country after the 2012 Olympics.  I think it is time for private organizations to come to the aid of Nigeria athletics because the AFN has tried in their part in raising the standard of the sport but the additional fund they will get from the corporate organizations will help to sustain the dream.”

Also, AFN board member in charge of grassroots developments, Dr. Jide Josiah expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the races and times recorded in the various events.

“The competition was quite exciting with the quality of races recorded here. As you can see, most of the Under-16 athletes who ran with the U-18 proved their worth and were not mere push over. Take the 400m for example where that small boy (Ololade Durojaiye) emerged champion, no one gave him any chance but yet he came out champion in the midsts of U-18 runners. With good handling, that boy will go places,” he enthused.

Over 500 athletes from 16 states and 18 track and field clubs participated in the two-day championships which held at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Lagos.

Olukoya U-18 Athletics Championships:

Tobias Thumbs Up AFN

After the initial postponement of the U-16 and 18 championships from last month due to the general election, athletes from different states and clubs showcased their talent on Wednesday during the Pastor D.K Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry U-16 and 18 Athletics Championships at the Yaba College of Technology Sports centre in Lagos.

The championships which started on Wednesday will end today Thursday with over 500 athletes taking to the track and field.

In what looked like a talent hunt in the junior level, the different states and clubs where on ground to capture the limelight with outstanding performances from their athletes.

Reacting to the Pastor D.K Olukoya U-16 and 18 championships, Abaia state and national athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, who spear headed Abia state to the championship, the Solomon Ogba led Athletics Federation of Nigeria should be commended for organizing this championship, he said this is the third major championship of the AFN this year and he is surprise that the events went well without fund from the sports ministry or the NSC.

“Commendation should be give to the President of the AFN, Solomon Ogba for the three major championships organized so far.” “Ogba and other members of the AFN have really done well and are working, unlike other federations where we don’t get to hear of any event,” he said.

London 2012: Team Nigeria Now To Camp In Surrey

THE Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, and the National Sports Commission, NSC, have changed camp sites for Team Nigeria for their 2012 Olympic Games preparation. The Nigerian flag bearers would now camp at the University of Surrey and the Guildford Spectrum.
Loughborough University was earlier selected to be Team Nigeria’s camp site, but for logistic reasons, the University which would also host the British Olympic Team and the Japanese Olympic Team would not play host to the Nigerians.
Secretary General of the NOC, Tunde Popoola who was in London with NSC officials said that they had gone to great length to secure University of Surrey and the Guildford Spectrum with its state of the art facilities for Team Nigeria. “It is an excellent place with all modern facilities, world class coaches that will assist our coaches and athletes, and health and medical support to put them in tip-top form,” Popoola said of the new camp.
“Our number one priority is to ensure that Team Nigeria have the best possible preparation environment to be able to excel at the Games. That is why we want the best environment for them. And this place is ideal,” he said.
Surrey borders London and is less than thirty minutes by train from the centre and the two UK’s main international airports, Heathrow and Gatwick are on the edge of the county. Surrey has a strong sporting heritage and home to the training base of Chelsea Football Club in Cobham.
The NOC scribe also said that athletes who would want to conceal injury would not have their way as the excellent medical facilities in Surrey would detect it as they provide facilities for drug tests too.

AAG: Ndanusa Calls For Preparations

Former minister of sports and chairman of National sports Commission, Sani Ndanusa has called on the sports ministry to put everything in place for the Nigeria contingent to commence camping ahead of the forthcoming All Africa Games.
Speaking during the weekend, Ndanusa stated that much as he is of the strong belief that the Nigeria contingent has the potential to perform well at the Maputo's games; it can only come through early training.
"The Commonwealth Games performance that we all celebrated came as a result of early training that the team had before they went for the games. That is what happened, and that is what it takes to have a successful performance in every championship," Ndanusa said.
The former sports minister who is now the chairman of the National Olympic Committee argued that it is very difficult for the commission to actually say how many sports Nigeria will take part in  at the All Africa Games stating that most of the games are still involved in qualification matches.
"Despite all that, I still believe that we have a team that can do well at the games. Only if the sports ministry will put their acts together and get the contingent into close camping and begin preparation on time."

Start All Africa Games preparations Now, Gora urges AFN

Former vice president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Elias Gora has urged the federation not to sleep on preparations for the All Africa Games coming up in September in Maputo, Mozambique.

Gora stated that the country was banking on athletics to produce medals for Nigeria, after sports like wrestling and special sports was yanked off the list of events by the organizers.

Athletics observers have raised concerns about the lack of intent showed so far by the AFN with regards to a course of action towards the Games. Nigeria topped the Athletics medals table at the last Games in Algiers 2007.

This was achieved mostly with Nigerian athletes based in the USA. So far no contact has been made with the athletes and other home-based who have potentials to win medals at the Games.

“Honestly the AFN as the sport’s governing body should start working and not wait for the National Sports Commission.

“They have athletes with record performances and they should get a list and start preparations with those athletes.

“Athletics is one sport that we are hoping on to give us medals at the All Africa Games and there is a need for our athletes to be adequately prepared. The AFN should not wait for the NSC.

“I know that the NSC has approved funds, but until the money comes work should be going on,” said Gora who was the Chef Mission of the Nigerian team to the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

At that event boycotted by top Commonwealth athletes, Nigeria presented a rag-tag athletics team and managed two gold medals won by Ajoke Odumosu and triple jumper Tosin Oke. The relay teams suffered lack of man power, while the coaching crew battled with confidence crisis.

“I expect that the technical committee should be on top of the situation. They should come up with a concise programme,” added Gora who is also a director at the NSC.

Start All Africa Games preparations Now, Gora urges AFN

Former vice president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Elias Gora has urged the federation not to sleep on preparations for the All Africa Games coming up in September in Maputo, Mozambique.

Gora stated that the country was banking on athletics to produce medals for Nigeria, after sports like wrestling and special sports was yanked off the list of events by the organizers.

Athletics observers have raised concerns about the lack of intent showed so far by the AFN with regards to a course of action towards the Games. Nigeria topped the Athletics medals table at the last Games in Algiers 2007.

This was achieved mostly with Nigerian athletes based in the USA. So far no contact has been made with the athletes and other home-based who have potentials to win medals at the Games.

“Honestly the AFN as the sport’s governing body should start working and not wait for the National Sports Commission.

“They have athletes with record performances and they should get a list and start preparations with those athletes.

“Athletics is one sport that we are hoping on to give us medals at the All Africa Games and there is a need for our athletes to be adequately prepared. The AFN should not wait for the NSC.

“I know that the NSC has approved funds, but until the money comes work should be going on,” said Gora who was the Chef Mission of the Nigerian team to the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.

At that event boycotted by top Commonwealth athletes, Nigeria presented a rag-tag athletics team and managed two gold medals won by Ajoke Odumosu and triple jumper Tosin Oke. The relay teams suffered lack of man power, while the coaching crew battled with confidence crisis.

“I expect that the technical committee should be on top of the situation. They should come up with a concise programme,” added Gora who is also a director at the NSC.

Fasuba: Nigerian Sprinters Needs Money

African 100m record holder, Olusoji Fasuba has predicted that Nigerian sprinters will continue to wallow in underachievement, unless they are adequately groomed and trained. Fasuba declared that Nigeria would have to spend money on the athletes to make this happen.

He argued that running under 10 seconds was the trend in the world of athletics and looking at the crop of Nigerian sprinters, not one could move into that bracket unless they get the necessary training.

“There is none that can match what is out there without support. To be honest with you it is not all about organizing competitions, it is all about giving good money to these young athletes so that they can train to attain world standard performance. Not everyone can be fortunate like me,” said Fasuba whose 2006 9.85seconds run remains unbeaten in the continent.

However, he said the likes of Obinna Metu and Ogho- Oghene Egworo can make impact at the All African Games if they can overcome the fear factor.

“I haven’t really watched their races of late. But if they can rid themselves of the fear of competing outside that would help a lot.”

He stated that rival Metu must have to prove that his training with world record holder, Usain Bolt was not a fluke.

“If you put a Ford engine on a BMW, it will still move like a Ford. Metu must look beyond conquering the local scene and prove himself.”

Fasuba stated that he would have love to make a strong comeback and defend his 2007 All Africa Games gold in Maputo, Mozambique, but the time was not ripe for a return to the tracks.

“Right now I’ve got things on my mind and once they are fulfilled I would be back,” he said.

AFN Shifts U-16 - 18 Championships To 6th, 7th April

 

 Due to the postponement of general elections from 2nd to 4th of April 2011, the U-16 and U-18 National Athletics Championships scheduled for 5th and 6th has been shifted by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to 6th and 7th (Wednesday and Thursday) April 2011.

According to the Secretary of the association, Maria Wophill (Mrs.)  The shift in the dates is necessary to enable participants coming from other states of the Federation travel to Lagos on Tuesday since there will be no movement on Monday 4th April.