Nigeria Appoints Taylor High Performance Director

Nigeria has appointed Americans Angie Taylor and Eric Campbell as Director and Director of athletics of the country’s High Performance Centre.

The contract agreements between the parties were signed on Tuesday at the Abuja National Stadium.

At a Press Conference where the duo were presented to Nigerians the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said: “The role of Angie Taylor is that of National Director to put together and run a high performance programme that can deliver podium success for Nigeria at global competitions in athletics, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing and in Taekwondo.”

He added that: “The role of Eric Campbell as the performance Director of Athletics is to design and run a programme for athletics specially that will deliver podium success in that sport.”

Team Nigeria.
Team Nigeria.

Mallam Abdullahi said the disappointment in 2012 London Olympics was what led to the unanimous decision to start doing things differently.

“One of the key lessons we learned was that at this time and age, no country can hope to perform and achieve podium success at the global level without a robust high performance system that translate talent into excellence.”

He noted that the National Sports Commission (NSC) engaged the service of one of the best recruitment agency based in the United Kingdom to get the positions filled, and the duo were the best it could get.

“I want to tell you that in Angie Taylor and Eric Campbell, we have got the best possible hands that we can get anywhere in the world, he said”

While noting that their appointment was revolutionary, the Minister expressed optimism that it will mark the turning point in the history of sports in Nigeria.

The Chairman of NSC assured that all the technical facilities required to drive the Centre will be ready by January next year.

On her part, Taylor who expressed excitement in the opportunity of working with talents in Nigeria, promised to work with other stakeholders in ensuring the success of the programme.

While expressing optimism that her input will help transform talented Nigerian athletes into world champions, the former US national coach said: “We can prove to the rest of the world that Nigeria is still here and still alive.”

Source: Joshua Adeyemi for Daily Trust.