C’ River footdrags on world athletics championships

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Cross River All Nigeria Athletics Championship, which also serve as Team Nigeria’s track and field athletes’ trial to major games and championships may not hold this year.

The 2015 edition of the championship, 69th in the series, is to serve as trial for the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Championships and Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games, but sponsors of the championship, Cross River State Government, is yet to meet its financial commitment to AFN less than two weeks to the championship.

The state government signed a five-year deal with AFN, they have been faithful in the last four editions, but doubts still surround this edition, which is the last.

According to AFN calendar, the championship is to begin on July 30 and end August 1.

A board member of the AFN, Olukayode Thomas, disclosed that the federation had contacted the state government on many occasions without getting a positive response.

“Last week, we sent a board member to Calabar, where they promised to give us a definite answer by July 15, 2015… when we contacted them on the agreed date, they were still evasive on the readiness of the state to meet its contractual obligation,’’ he said.

Thomas appealed to the state government not to breach a legal agreement, saying: “Even if they don’t want to renew the contract, let them honour the five years deal they signed with us.  Failure of Cross River to honour this agreement will not only affect our preparation for the World Championships and the All Africa Games, it will also affect the career of many athletes. We, therefore, appeal to the government to tow the path of honour,’’