The Technical Director of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Mr Samuel Onikeku has said his department will tremendously improve the fortunes of female coaches, junior AthIetes and would aim at sustaining the tempo in the years ahead.
The Head of AFN technical Committee in a flash interview also vowed to improve on the federation’s grassroot AthIetics development which saw the AFN attend two international Youth Competitions last year in Kenya and Gambia.
He stated that the technical department through the support of the AFN President and board was able to get scholarships for young Athletes into Schools in the US.
The former 110m/400m Hurdler insisted that more Competitions backed by youth talents discoveries would be pursued with vigour in the coming season.
“We expect that the harvest of youth talents in competitions at Kenya and Gambia last two years will in no small measure contribute to Nigeria’s AthIetics team for Africa Games and Paris Olympics this year”.
On the encouragement of female coaches, Onikeku informed that unlike in the past a female coach and World AthIetics lecturer Funmi Otegbeye was included in the AFN technical dept which he said, was an improvement that would be continued.
“We would continue to support female coaches, if you observe, most of our medals in international and local competitions are won by women, they have to be encouraged”
According to him, the federation’s technical dept. has plans to improve the technical equipment available which most times, hamper the efficiency of the department dding that equipment such as starting and finish-line Cameras causes delay in the release of competition results to the media and others.
“You will discover that when it is getting dark during a competition, especially in a stadium without flood light, the Cameras becomes defective in its performances”.
The Director assured that with the support of the AFN president and the board, the dept. would get the problems solved in the years ahead depending on the availability funds.
Consequently, AFN would demand obedience to the rules from athletes, insisting that technical Committee maybe strict in applying the rules in the interest of Athletes and they have to also follow the rules and not blame technical officials for being strict.
Interestingly, Mr Onikeku opined that he would want to see the federation’s technical dept. improve and function effectively just like it has been doing, but this time around, get the right equipment it desires for excellent performance in seasons ahead”.
