The Nation Newspaper

Tag: athletes

  • AFN to train athletes in steeplechase, says Technical Director

    The Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Monday said the country would feature for the first time in the steeplechase event at the maiden edition of the African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC).

    AYAC, which would feature athletes from 24 African countries, is scheduled for Warri in April.

    AFN’s Technical Director, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the event would be experimented at various national trials in March.

    The All Nigeria Relays Challenge will hold from March 15 to March 16 at Ijebu-Ode, while the second leg holds from March 22 to March 23 in Warri, Delta State.

    “For the first time in Nigeria, we are going to have the steeplechase for boys and girls. I do not think we have had the event before. And we are trying to make sure that we have it during these trials that are lined up.

    “It involves the construction of barriers because there are different heights for the boys and girls. We have to do it now and expose the athletes in the main competition. Even if we dodge it now, we will still compete in the event in the next three or four weeks, so it is better we expose our athletes to it now,’’ he said.

    He said the AFN would have in its programme, the half marathon and all the different relays would also be started, to ensure Nigeria got back to its glory days.

    “We want to go back to the glory days. We have our areas of strength, so that is why we have included different types of relays in our programme, this year. We want to see how we can qualify early for the different international meets and avoid a last-minute approach,’’ he added.

  • Jonathan splashes N45m on athletes

    Jonathan splashes N45m on athletes

    •Declares games open
    •As Fashola charges athletes, officials on fairness

    President Goodluck Jonathan has splashed a total sum of N45 million naira on athletes participating in the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF).

    Ably represented by the Vice- President Namadi Sambo, the President stated that N20 million has been earmarked for the overall team at the festival, while N15 million and N10 million naira will be prize monies for the second and third teams respectively.

    At the Teslim Balogun Stadium yesterday venue of the opening ceremony of the games, Sambo said the festival since inception has met with its cardinal objectives of fostering unity and friendship among Nigerian youths, and the discovery of budding talents for the future.

    “This year’s festival that is being hosted by Lagos State is like home-coming as it all started here in 1973. The Federal Government has donated the sum of N45 million for the first, second and third teams that will emerge at the end of the festival,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) earlier charged athletes and officials alike to compete and judge fairly as winning in any event should not be manipulated in any form.

    Fashola further said while Lagos will hope to compete to the medals table, the state will not be desperate to win.

    “The ultimate objective of the festival is to discover talents for the future.

    The festival have been elevated by previous host but Lagos hope to extend on it. I wish all our visitors an eventful stay,” he said.

    Present where, the first Military Governor of Lagos, Mobolaji Johnson, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Rotimi Amaechi of River State and other eminent Nigerians.

  • Plateau to present 399 athletes, officials

    Plateau to present 399 athletes, officials

    The Plateau Commissioner for Sports Development, James Yakubu, on Thursday said that a contingent of 399 athletes and officials would represent the state at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos State.

    Yakubu, who disclosed this in Jos, said the athletes would feature in 23 sports.

    He said the state government had provided what would make the athletes comfortable, to enable them to be able to perform at their very best at the 14-day fiesta.

    According to him, government had taken delivery of sports equipment needed for the festival and has released funds for the payment of athletes’ allowances, as well as their other needs.

    The commissioner, who said the issue of accommodation and other logistics had been taken care of, charged the athletes to reciprocate the government’s gesture by wining laurels.

    He announced that a sum of N500, 000 was being set aside as reward for athletes that would win medals.

    “We have made available N500, 000 as an on-the-spot reward for athletes who will win medals. It is a way of encouraging the athletes toward a result-oriented outing,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said the contingent would surpass its 12th position at the 17th edition of the Games, tagged “Garden City Games,’’ in Port Harcourt in 2011.

    He disclosed that Gov. Jonah Jang would today address the athletes ahead of their trip to Lagos.

  • Anambra dangles cash prizes on athletes

    Anambra dangles cash prizes on athletes

    AS PART of strategies to ensure optimal performance at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), the Anambra government has announced cash rewards for athletes that will win medals at the games. The Games, scheduled to be hosted by Lagos, will hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

    Disclosing the prizes to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Edozie Aroh, said that gold medal winners would receive N200, 000 each.

    According to him, winners of silver medals would be rewarded with N150, 000, while bronze medal winners would get N75, 000. Aroh said there were other incentives being packaged to further motivate the athletes, such as ensuring adequate logistics support.

    He said this was the first of its kind in the state, stressing that Anambra was determined to reverse the dismal performance of the State in past festivals by boosting the morale of its athletes.

    “It is part of our commitment to the athletes, as well as to ensure a superlative outing; motivation is paramount in sports and we want to provide that as much as possible. They now know what is at stake. It is not just about the state but for them as individuals; they must give in their best because they have never had it so good,” Aroh said.

    On the medal prospects of Anambra in Lagos, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr Cyprian Amuzie, said it was targeting about 30 gold medals and many silver and bronze medals. Amuzie said taekwondo, gymnastics, and the swimming team handled by a newly-engaged coach, Joseph Okechi, had high medal prospects.

    He also said that the athletics team being jointly handled by Johnny Igboka and Uchenna Emedolu, would be expected to win many medals. The Permanent Secretary said that monetary prizes attached to the medals by the state government would spur the athletes to fly the flag of the State to higher heights.

    “The commissioner has noted with regrets the poor outing of the State in the NSF and has resolved to reverse the ugly trend. He pledged to provide all necessary logistics both for camping and the games proper, including the announcement of mouth watering prizes for every medal won at the games,” Amuzie said.

  • 18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL Ogun athletes intensify training

    18th NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL Ogun athletes intensify training

    •Amosun rehabilitates Alake Sport Centre 

    OGUN STATE Government says it will carry- out a total renovation and rehabilitation of all the facilities at the Alake Sport Centre, Ijaiye Abeokuta to international standard.

    The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun stated this when he visited the sport centre to congratulate the State athletics for doing well at the just concluded Southwest One Team Sport Elimination in Ibadan where the State qualified for nine Sports out of the thirteen on offer at the elimination.

    Governor Amosun who expressed dismay at the level of decadence of the facilities many of them built over twenty-five years back praised Team Ogun athletes for excelling at different national and international competitions despite the dilapidated structures.

    He therefore promised to overhaul all the facilities as a way of providing enabling environment so that the athletes will continue to give-out their best.

    Governor Amosun, however, called on the athletes to reciprocate government gesture by putting more effort and charge them to do the state proud at the forthcoming National Sports Festival “Eko 2012”

    He said: “Continue to train hard and go for gold in Lagos. Let me assure you that I will be with you in Lagos to encourage you and once you deliver, the state government will reward you adequately.”

    Governor Amosun did not forget to tell Ogun State athletes to be disciplined and avoid any act that will tarnish the good image of the State saying as state ambassadors they must serve as good examples to other states during the National Sports Festival.

    Responding on behalf of Team Ogun athletes, the Vice Captain Ephraim Daniel thanked the Governor and his entourage for the visit and promised his colleagues resolve to do the state proud at the “Eko 2012”.

    He was also full of praise to the State governor for deciding to upgrade the facilities at the Alake Sport Centre to International standard while reminding the Governor on the need to continue to improve the welfare of the athletes.

  • Ado Poly honours victorious athletes

    Ado Poly honours victorious athletes

    The Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti will on Wednesday roll out  the drums to honour athletes that won laurels for the institution at the 17th Nigeria Polytechnic Games held in Ede, Osun  State in April.
    The sum of 2.3million naira has been set aside as prize money to appreciate the sports heroes and heroines whose performances helped FED Poly. Ado-Ekiti to finish 5th among the 62 schools that took part in the games, winning 7 gold, 11 silver and 19 bronze medals.
    Each gold medalist will receive N20,000, silver winners will pocket N15,000 while bronze medalists are to get the sum of N10,000. Gold medalists in a team event will share the sum of N40,000, silver medalists N30,000 while N20,000 will be shared among bronze medalists.
    Members of the 93-man contignent that represented the school but failed to win medals are also expected to receive consolation prizes.
    Rector of the institution, Mrs. Taiwo Akande, who  was Chairman Local Organising Committee when Ado-Ekiti hosted NIPOGA Games in 2008, will be on hand to join in the celebration of hardwork and excellence.