2019 All-Nigeria Track and Field Championships set for Kaduna - July 22-27

The Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has approved the dates of July 22 to 27 to hold its annual All-Nigeria championships and national trials at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna ahead of major International competitions coming up this year.

Among such competitions is the ECOWAS Region 2 Athletics Junior Championship in Niamey, Niger Republic, the 12th All Africa Games in Morocco and the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

According to a statement released by Marcus Amanzi, the chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of AFN, the AFN Board promised to work assiduously with relevant stakeholders toward ensuring Nigeria’s successful participation at the competitions while pledging its commitment to grassroots development of athletes.

Technical Director of AFN, Sunday Adeleye presented a long list of 91 Athletes in preparation for the All Africa Games which was deliberated upon by the Board before its eventual submission on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2019 to the Federation of Elite Athletes Department of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

It is from the list that Athletes will be chosen to camp in preparation for the All Africa Games. The meeting, held at the AFN Secretariat at the National Stadium in Abuja also decided that during the National Trials in Kaduna, the Congress of AFN will hold.

President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, who presided over the meeting called for unity in order to move athletics forward. Gusau, who is also one of the Vice Presidents of the Confederation of Africa Athletics and President, region 2 of CAA said the sub region he heads as president has been reduced from 16 to 15 Countries following the transfer of Mauritania to another region.

The AFN Board members after their meeting, moved to the Media Centre of the Abuja National Stadium, venue of the IAAF Coaches Education and Certification System level 1 Course.

Formally declaring the 12 days Course open, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau encouraged the 24 Participants to regard the training as an opportunity to contribute in churning out younger Athletes that can make their marks in the sport adding that more of such are on the pipeline for the benefit of Nigerian Coaches.

Also speaking former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Chief Solomon Ogba reminded the course participants of the need to work harder and adopt modern training methods that can bring out the best in Athletes.

On his part Technical Director of AFN Sunday Adeleye spoke against doping in sports adding that Coaches who engage in doping have no place in athletics emphasising that competing clean is the best as there is life after athletics.

Funmi Otegbeye, the Course Director and Professor Ezra Gunen said they will do their best to impact both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills on the 24 Course participants and commended IAAF and AFN for providing the opportunity to conduct the training.

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