Technical hitch looms at Mobil Athletics Classics

This year's Nigeria Mobil Athletics Championship billed to take-off the blocs in Abuja on July 7 -9, may not enjoy its desired results if, news filtering into our office in Lagos, are to be handled seriously. nigeriasports.com gathered that, as a result of some "administrative flops here and there, especially with the selection of technical officials for the event, things might go sour, if not checked before the date.

According to our investigations, the Consultant to the Championship sponsors, has thrown the official list of qualified technical officials for the event, as has always been the practise, into the waste basket, in preference to his choices. We learnt further that, organizers of the event, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), listed 25 of its acknowledged technical officials for the Mobil Championship.

But rather than accept the organizers' approved list of officials, the said Consultant, picked only five and decided to hand pick 20 other non-registered officials. "The AFN has the list of all members of the National Association of Technical Officials (NATO). It is from this official list, that the AFN selects technical officials for any of its championships.

"Now, a Consultant, whose wife lost her bid to become the President, NATO, at an election, has decided to take his pound of flesh from members, who preferred Professor Tunde Makanju to his wife as their President. This is not good for the game and we have decided too, that the Consultant would have his old hands, as technical officials at the Mobil Athletics showcase in Abuja. Already, we have asked our chosen five members to boycott the event," nigeriasports.com was informed.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian athletics technicians have called on AFN President, Mrs Violet Odogwu-Nwajei to wade into the issue before "her name is dragged into the mud and allow athletes and officials have a face-off with her. She has started on a good note, but if she folds her arms and give room to people, who think of their personal interest against the federation and Nigeria, her good start, might turn out to be a false start at the end of the end."