No wild card for the Olympics-AFN

This was disclosed by the technical director of AFN, Alhaji A. K Amu who spoke to nigeriasports.com recently.
 
"Mobil is where you do selection for international competitions especially the Olympics."
 
"So if you are not at the Mobil championship, you are out. All the athletes including those on tour [in Germany] must come and qualify. That is a standing practice."
 
According to him, the championship slated for 8-10 July at the Abuja national stadium is open to all and offers great opportunity to the local athletes as well.

…Catching them young

The forthcoming Nkoyo Ibori U-20 Athletics championship has been described as a pool where young and promising athletes will be discovered.
 
Speaking to Nigeriasports.com, on the forthcoming U-20 championship billed for Calabar, Alhaji Amu said the AFN hopes to get some upcoming athletes that will nurture into greatness.
 
"We hope to get some new talents from the championship as we did at the national sports festival where we discovered about three good athletes, they were good enough to be in the camp and we invited them."
 
"This is the line with what our president Dan Ngerem said. We are constantly on the look out for athletes who are good in their individual events to be called to camp and be given the modern day encouragement."
 
He however urged athletes to try and developed themselves through personal efforts spiced by discipline and get out of the crowd, pointing out that Peter Emelieze who won the 100meters in 10.50secs at the just concluded 3rd AFN zonal meet at Enugu did same and today he has left the crowd.
 
But Amu also decries the neglect of athletes by states at the grassroots level.
 
"This where states themselves are expected to come to the fray. If they develop these grassroot products and train them, the country will be a proud owner of world class athletes. But states don't bring out money except for football."

Report by Chigozie Chukwuleta, Enugu