The technical director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, says Nigeria will groom a track team that will contest for all the relay medals at the international meets, starting from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The AFN will embark on a massive relay campaign starting with the national relay meet scheduled for March 14 at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, according to Nesiama.
“We want to reinforce the Relay tradition in Nigeria. To this end, we have established the national relay championship, which will come up on the 14th of March. All States and clubs are expected to present their athletes.
“Apart from this, in all our events we will run the relays. We want to have a solid team at the end of the day for international meets. Right now we have two teams off shore and on shore, from where we intend to get the best runners,” said the AFN technical director after last weekend’s meet in Ijebu-Ode.
He remarked that the country was on course in her preparations for the Commonwealth Games adding that 15 athletes have met the set standard.
“But we are working to have more athletes meet the standards that we have set. This is because we are not going to Glasgow for sight seeing, but to participate and win medals.”
He remarked that the outcome of last weekend’s All Comers meet was very satisfying compared to last year when the athletes shocked the federation with their refusal to compete.
“We are satisfied with the performances of the athletes. Virtually all the top athletes were here and that shows they mean business this year,” he said.
