…..Okowa Charges Team To glory, Pride And Honour
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has named its official team to the 3rd CAA U-18/U-20 Championships which begins on Wednesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria.
The team was named on Tuesday by AFN’s President Chief Tonobok Okowa and the Technical Director Gabriel Okon.
51 members of the team are male while 41 are female.
The team moved into the championship village on Monday after two weeks of camping shortly after the national trials in Shagamu, Ogun State under the close watch of the AFN Technical Committee led by Gabriel Okon.
A breakdown of the team shows that 23 boys and 17 girls will be competing for honours in the U-18 category while 23 girls and 29 boys will be viaing honours in the U-20 category of the Championships.
U-18:
Girls – 18 athletes – 17 events
Boys – 22 athletes – 17 events
U-20:
Girls – 24 athletes – 18 events
Boys – 28 athletes – 19 events
Okon said the Technical Committee took a very critical and thourough look at the strength, technical and tactical abilities as well as the events that we have advantage in, before selecting each member of Team Nigeria.
“I’m confident that this will go places, they are the future of Nigeria athletics. They’re young, eager to learn and the spirit in the camp is sky high,” Okon a former sprint said.
Meanwhile, the President of AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa has charged members of Team Nigeria to go for glory at the competition which starts Wednesday.
“It’s not a win at all cost but they should run, jump and throw with the zeal and determination to succeed, we are fully committed to this project of laying a solid foundation,” Okowa stated.
“We went to Ndola, Zambia two years ago with 41 athletes and the team finished on the podium. This time around we want to run for the top honour,” Okowa, a Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics added.
Temitope Ademola and Honourable Victor Clement are the captains of the team, Ademola leads the girls and Clement is the boys leader.
Source/AFN Media
