Sports ministry, AFN move to stop U.S.-based athletes from ‘burning’ out

By Daily Sports Nigeria on May 6, 2022

To prevent U.S.-based Nigerian athletes from ‘burning’ out before this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the Sports Ministry and officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have appointed a ‘middleman’ to interface with the athletes, their coaches and schools.

Nigerian athletes, who are in various schools in the United States, have been the talking point in the last two weeks, scattering world, African, national and NCAA records at various track and field events.

From newsprint sensation, Favour Ofili, to Rosemary Chukwuma and Favour Ashe, athletics lovers are hoping that Team Nigeria will be the one to beat when hostilities for medals begin at the African Senior Athletics Championship in Mauritius, World Athletics Championship in Oregon, U.S. and the Commonwealth Games in England.

To get the best of the athletes, former African queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali, revealed yesterday that the sports ministry and the AFN have ‘blocked’ every loophole.

Onyali, who is the Special Adviser on Sports to Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, told The Guardian that U.S.-based Nigerian former 400m hurdler, Victor Okorie (now AFN Performance Director), has been mandated to interface with the athletes, their coaches and schools with a view to managing their form ahead of the Commonwealth Games and other championships.

Onyali, a five-time Olympian, hinted that Okorie had already commenced his ‘interface’ job with the athletes.

“We don’t want our athletes to burn out before the Commonwealth Games, as we had witnessed in the past. That is why the AFN Performance Director, Victor Okorie, is mandated to liaise with them (athletes), their coaches and schools in the U.S.

“The sports ministry is doing everything possible to ensure Team Nigeria records major achievements at the Commonwealth Games,” Onyali stated.

The Guardian recalls that barely a week after shattering Blessing Okagbare’s 200m record with a new 21.96 seconds, Favour Ofili made African sprint history last weekend by running a 100m lead of 10.93s to become the second African woman after Namibia’s Christine Mboma to race inside 11 seconds in the event.

Another Nigerian sprinte

r, Rosemary Chukwuma, was also in inspiring form, as she legally dipped inside 23 seconds for the first time in her career to win the 200m race and also set a new Texas Tech University record last weekend.

Chukwuma’s 22.78 second new lifetime best is the 10th-fastest time in the NCAA this season, the fifth-fastest time in the Big 12 this season, the sixth-fastest by an African so far this season and the third by a Nigerian after Ofili (21.96s) and Tobi Amusan (22.66s).

 

 

Source The Guardian Nigeria

Posted May 6, 2022


 

You may also like...
Dortmund To Face Bayern Without Sancho, Guerreiro, Reyna...

Super Eagles friendly in jeorpady

IOC strips 10 athletes of Olympic medals in...

‘I’d Rather Die In Battle’ — Anthony Joshua...

Super Eagles: A Vote Of No Confidence On...

Messi Equals Pele Record With 643rd Club Goal...

 

Latest News Hearn slams Ngannou over Joshua defeat excuse Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen Visa unveils Amusan, Nwachukwu as global ambassadors I’m not under pressure to coach Eagles – Finidi Super Eagles focused on World Cup qualifiers – Omeruo Ibrahim: Striker who wants to emulate Lukaku at Chelsea Boniface ranked best African performer in Europe Napoli may reduce Osimhen price tag Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in international friendly NOC commends Team Nigeria, government, media for victory at African Games JOF U-13 Cup: 8 Clubs Qualify For Quarterfinals Osimhen resumes training, fit for Atalanta clash

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (53,394 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,401 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,546 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,219 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,004 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (41,883 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (41,768 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,225 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,272 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,183 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,635 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,210 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media