Uchenna Emedolu, an Olympic bronze medalist has called on the Anambra State Government to organise more athletic competitions to help the growth and development of the sport
According to him more competitions will mean better preparation for wishing to go for other national and international competitions outside state.
Emedolu made the call, against the backdrop of the staging of the maiden AFN/Anambra Golden League Athletics championships held at the Rojenny Sports and Entertainment Centre, Oba near Onitsha on June 11.
The Commonwealth silver medalist said Anambra State athletes in the past did not have the opportunity to train or competes on tartan tracks, stressing that the state government had done well to install the facility.
He, however, said the quality of athletes’ performance in recent times had not been encouraging, compared to what obtained in the past, blaming it on poor motivation of the athletes.
Emedolu, then called for better welfare packages to make them to become more devoted.
Solomon Aliu, another athletics coach said the he was impressed that an individual could put such a facility in place, just because he he loved sports.
Aliu commended the State Government for entering into a partnership that resulted into the installation of such a facility that had now won the admiration of stakeholders.
“With regular competitions on the facility, better athletes could be produced for the state. Regular use of the facility will also help the life of the tracks.
Felix Awogu, the General Manager, Super Sport (West Africa), described the tracks as world-class, stressing that the facility would open up more opportunities for budding athletes to take the sport higher levels.
He said there should be synergy between the ministries of Sports and Education, so that they could lunch the “catch them young programme” in schools, so as to develop and become made effective.
Awogu, however, agreed with Emedolu that the times being posted by athletes were not impressive. “But the facility is good, it is just that it is coming rather late, but it is better late than never” .
Ifunanya Muoghalu an athlete of the All Sports Foundation, Nimo, Njikoka council area said she was glad that she could now train and compete in Anambra, her state. Muoghalu said they had been looking forward to more of such competitions in the state.
NAN reports that the competition witnessed a huge turnout of athletes, coaches as well as a cross section of the society, including traditional rulers.