Emedolu, Onyali’s absence stir controversy

Some of the officials whose athletes’ chances may be dampen should Emedolu and Onyali who did not feature in the trial to select the country’s team to next month’s Athens Olympics are eventually chosen, have been shouting fowl at the athletes’ absence at the Mobil Track and Field Championship.

The officials’ claims was that the athletes tactically decided to stay away from the trial in order not to face humiliation from the home-based.

“It would be very bias of the AFN officials to include Emedolu and Onyali in the team to Athens Olympics leaving those that participated. We will fight it to the Sports Minister’s office. Enough is enough of the AFN boardroom bad decisions. It is killing the interest of our athletes”, some of the officials said in a chat with nigeriasports.com on Thursday afternoon at the mainbowl of Abuja National Stadium.

But the chairman of the AFN Technical Committee, Alhaji Abdul Karim Amu told nigeriasports.com when contacted that the Federation has received medical reports on the said athletes – Emedolu and Onyali – confirming that they are nursing injuries.

Amu was emphatic when he told nigeriasports.com that Emedolu had insisted to attend the Mobil Track and Field, but was prevented by the medical doctor who is attending to him in Germany.

He stated that the decision on whether to include them in the team to next month’s Athens Olympics or not would be taken by the Board.

“I cannot single handedly take decision on such a crucial matter”, he said.

Report by Fidelis Ebu in Abuja