Lagos-based track and field guru, Akin Afolarin has sent out a strong charge to the new executive committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to ensure they make grassroots programmes and hunt for talents their major focus.
Sports247 reports that Afolarin, who is a highly respected programmes’ announcer during major athletics competitions in Nigeria, reckoned that the need to scout young athletes and raw talents is cogent for the country now more than ever, in order to replace the nation’s aging stars.
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He, however, further expressed rays of hope that youth development would be faced squarely by the new board led by Tonobok Okowa, considering that many technocrats and former athletes got into the federation during the recent AFN elections.
Afolarin, who is also a long-serving school teacher, added: “The election was momentous, and we are glad with the composition of the new board.
There are more technical hands on board, and we are hoping that things will work better for the sport of athletics in Nigeria.”
The ever-amiable athletics icon, who was instrumental in the discovery of former African women’s 100m record holder, Mary Onyali several years ago at Agboju Schools Complex near FESTAC Town, Lagos, also advised that all newly elected members of the AFN should take up the gauntlet in ensuring that athletics gets the best attention it deserves as a major sport in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Athletics is a major sport in Nigeria, and we need to get it right. Once you take football, athletics is next. So, we need to take up the growth of athletics fully.
“We are now hoping that things will get better, so we can make progress. Towards achieving this, my own suggestion for total focus will be on grassroots programmes.”
Afolarin concluded by advocating better synergy and liaisons between the AFN and Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF) as a means towards ensuring that raw talents are spotted across various nooks and crannies of the country.
“Talents are discovered at the grassroots. That’s why they have to liaise with the school’s sports federation so that we can discover new talents.
“We need to discover new talents who will grow from the state to the regional and national levels. We need a smooth transition that will help us spot raw talents to take over from the older athletes,” Afolarin submitted.
