We will make Nigeria excel in long distance - Ogba
- Details
- Category: Sports
- Written by Joshua Odeyemi
- Hits: 564
“There is a belief that Nigeria cannot do well in the long distance race and marathon but the notion is wrong”, the AFN President maintained.
He noted that “we have what it takes to do well in the long distances because we have similar vegetation and environment like the countries that do well in the event. The problem is that we have not paid attention to this area and I think it is something we need to do.”
Chief Ogba said in order to tackle the situation, the Federation has decided to begin the next season with a half marathon. “We are going to do six marathons in the six geopolitical zones next year.”
He said this process will help redirect the mindset of Nigerian athletes to the long distance races.
“We are also going to train our coaches and our technical people because it’s an area that is very problematic to us right now, he noted.
The AFN President observed that track and field has developed so fast, noting that what was obtainable in the sixties are no longer tenable in the game today and Nigerian coaches had to be updated.
“Nigerian coaches have not been able to update their skills on what is happening in the modern days thereby dishing out things that will be retrogressing the athletes rather than progressing them”, he maintained.
Chief Ogba said the Federation has lined up some coaching courses before the Olympics, which have been approved by the IAAF.
Articles
We will make Nigeria excel in long distance - Ogba
Category: Sports Written by Joshua Odeyemi Hits: 564
The President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba has vowed to make Nigeria excel in the long distance race at the 2012 Olympics in London. Chief Ogba who said this in Abuja noted that the country has the manpower and environment to produce top class athletes in the long distance race categories.“There is a belief that Nigeria cannot do well in the long distance race and marathon but the notion is wrong”, the AFN President maintained.
He noted that “we have what it takes to do well in the long distances because we have similar vegetation and environment like the countries that do well in the event. The problem is that we have not paid attention to this area and I think it is something we need to do.”
Chief Ogba said in order to tackle the situation, the Federation has decided to begin the next season with a half marathon. “We are going to do six marathons in the six geopolitical zones next year.”
He said this process will help redirect the mindset of Nigerian athletes to the long distance races.
“We are also going to train our coaches and our technical people because it’s an area that is very problematic to us right now, he noted.
The AFN President observed that track and field has developed so fast, noting that what was obtainable in the sixties are no longer tenable in the game today and Nigerian coaches had to be updated.
“Nigerian coaches have not been able to update their skills on what is happening in the modern days thereby dishing out things that will be retrogressing the athletes rather than progressing them”, he maintained.
Chief Ogba said the Federation has lined up some coaching courses before the Olympics, which have been approved by the IAAF.