AFN’s boss, Solomon Ogba urges home-based athletes to fight for spots in Beijing team

The President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, has urged home-based athletes to work hard to be in the country’s team to the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships.

Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, Ogba said, “The Beijing World Championships will not be a jamboree… we are going with a very lean team and any athlete who does not have a chance of making the finals will not be in our team.

I was impressed with the performances of some of our athletes in the Anambra Golden League and I hope they will up their game in Kaduna and run better.’’

Ogba also revealed that only coaches producing athletes will make the national team, saying, “In the past, we took many coaches who were not producing athletes to games and championships, but the criteria for coaches’ selection has changed. Only those producing athletes and whose athletes made the team will be considered for a place in the national team.’’

The Beijing World Championships will not be a jamboree… we are going with a very lean team and any athlete who does not have a chance of making the finals will not be in our team. I was impressed with the performances of some of our athletes in the Anambra Golden League and I hope they will up their game in Kaduna and run better.

Meanwhile, the AFN says it is working round the clock to ensure that the Kaduna Golden League is a huge success.According to AFN Secretary, Olumide Bamiduro, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has granted the federation application for the use of Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna as venue of the meet, which will hold this Saturday.

Bamiduro revealed that most of the athletics clubs and states’ associations have signified their intention to participate in the Kaduna meet.