‘No room for age cheats in D. K. Olukoya Athletics Championship’

ORGANISERS of the annual Pastor D. K. Olukoya Athletics Championship may find it tough controlling the large crowd of athletes expected to storm Lagos on Friday for this year’s edition of the tourney. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it is expecting about 1,000 athletes, but the number might go up considering the excitement the tournament has generated among the athletes.

   Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, told The Guardian Tuesday that they were looking forward to see about 1,000 athletes from 26 states and athletics clubs from across the country.

  He said the 2015 Dr. D.K Olukoya Athletics Championships, which will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the first time, would serve as trial for the Africa Youth Athletics Championships in Mauritius scheduled for between April 23 and 26 and the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Columbia in July.

  But AFN President, Solomon Ogba, said Tuesday that the number could be more than 1,000. “Our young athletes don’t want to miss this golden opportunity. They are anxiously looking forward to February 6 for the party to begin. Don’t forget that this year’s edition of the Dr. D.K. Olukoya Championship will serve a dual purpose. But we are ready. We will give the youth the best of tournament because any mistake at this stage may not be good for their career.”  

  Meanwhile, the Meet Manager, Yussuf Alli, has said that he expects tough competition from junior athletes from Kwara, Delta and Cross River states.

 “These states have been consistent in producing young athletes in the last few years. I expect athletes from these states to dominate the sprints, jumps, quarter-mile and hurdles,” he said. 

  The Guardian learnt Tuesday that the AFN has set the machinery in motion to punish any state or Athletics Club that parades ‘over-age’ athlete in the tournament. Top officials of AFN are expected to arrive Lagos on Friday.