Posted: Feb 07, 2011
National athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, has passed a damning verdict on the current crop of track and field athletes representing Nigeria.
The coaching veteran, also known as Toblow, has been around long enough to be involved in the development of globally recognised Nigerian stars like Mary Onyali, Davidson and Osmond Ezinwa and several others.
But he is not happy that the country has largely failed to produce new talent to replace these retired stars.
"It's sad, but the only Nigerian athlete that we can really refer to as being one of the best in the world in her event is Blessing Okagbare," Toblow told Complete Sports on Sunday. "We can't. for now, expect any individual medals in the Olympics and World Championships, except in the women's long jump where Okagbare competes.
There should be many top athletes from Nigeria going by the potential we have, but we are not developing the ones we have quickly enough."
Toblow, who currently heads the Abia State athletics coaching team, however believes that with proper planning, there are more world-class athletes where the Beijing 2009 surprise bronze medallist came from.
"I'm still waiting for this year's competition schedule from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria so that I can showcase the young athletes I have in Abia. These athletes are raring to go and I can't wait to unleash them. I want to win national intermediate championships. I'm planning to get Nigeria back on top, especially in the 4x100m and 4x400m."
The coach also appealed to the Abia State government to provide training facilities for his athletes to be properly developed, although he admitted that the coming elections have become the priority, rather than sports.
The coaching veteran, also known as Toblow, has been around long enough to be involved in the development of globally recognised Nigerian stars like Mary Onyali, Davidson and Osmond Ezinwa and several others.
But he is not happy that the country has largely failed to produce new talent to replace these retired stars.
"It's sad, but the only Nigerian athlete that we can really refer to as being one of the best in the world in her event is Blessing Okagbare," Toblow told Complete Sports on Sunday. "We can't. for now, expect any individual medals in the Olympics and World Championships, except in the women's long jump where Okagbare competes.
There should be many top athletes from Nigeria going by the potential we have, but we are not developing the ones we have quickly enough."
Toblow, who currently heads the Abia State athletics coaching team, however believes that with proper planning, there are more world-class athletes where the Beijing 2009 surprise bronze medallist came from.
"I'm still waiting for this year's competition schedule from the Athletic Federation of Nigeria so that I can showcase the young athletes I have in Abia. These athletes are raring to go and I can't wait to unleash them. I want to win national intermediate championships. I'm planning to get Nigeria back on top, especially in the 4x100m and 4x400m."
The coach also appealed to the Abia State government to provide training facilities for his athletes to be properly developed, although he admitted that the coming elections have become the priority, rather than sports.
FIFA BAN: TORO WANTS FG TO REPLACE ADAMU
Posted: Feb 07, 2011
Former Secretary of the Nigeria Football Association, Alhaji Sani Toro, has said that it was unfortunate that Dr. Amos Adamu lost an appeal against his three years suspension from football activities in the world even as he called on the federal government to intercede by ensuring that Nigeria does not lose the seat on the CAF executive committee.
Reacting to the upholding of the suspension by FIFA, Alhaji Toro said the NFF should put that behind themand get the federal government's backing in a bid to ensure that Nigeria is allowed to bring a replacement for the remaining two years Adamu had left to serve in the CAF executive committee.
According to Toro, Nigeria has to enforce the right to replacement in accordance with Article 22 sub section 12 of the CAF statutes, which stipulates that should there be a vacancy on the CAF executive committee, during the first half of the term, the executive committee
shall elect a replacement for the reminder of the term.
He said that it is now left for the NFF to make a strong presentation to CAF on the need for Nigeria to nominate a replacement for Adamu, pointing out that Nigeria had done enough for CAF for the demand to be met
Reacting to the upholding of the suspension by FIFA, Alhaji Toro said the NFF should put that behind themand get the federal government's backing in a bid to ensure that Nigeria is allowed to bring a replacement for the remaining two years Adamu had left to serve in the CAF executive committee.
According to Toro, Nigeria has to enforce the right to replacement in accordance with Article 22 sub section 12 of the CAF statutes, which stipulates that should there be a vacancy on the CAF executive committee, during the first half of the term, the executive committee
shall elect a replacement for the reminder of the term.
He said that it is now left for the NFF to make a strong presentation to CAF on the need for Nigeria to nominate a replacement for Adamu, pointing out that Nigeria had done enough for CAF for the demand to be met
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