Revive track event, Olympian  urges AFN

By Femi Atolagbe
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An Olympic medalists, Saul Weigopwa has urged the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to do more to revive the dying track event which has always being our fortress in the past.

Weigopwa who stated this during an exclusive interview with the Sporting Hope at the ongoing 5th National Youth Games, in Ilorin, Kwara state, said the federation and the country need to go back to grassroot to discover the youths at early stage.

He said “competition makes sports interesting and it remains the best training for athletes, when athletes are competing it will inspire them all the time. Today those competition are no more in place”.

The Adamawa born Olympic Bronze medalists, added that the federation should do all it could to look for sponsorship for competitions has it was then.

“During our time, it was Milo, Coca Cola and Mobil that are sponsoring competition not government, he said.”

He commended the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for putting the games together, saying the competition will go along way to involve the athletes at the early stage.

“If we rely on government to do it alone athletes will not go any where and the federation will be going down”.

He called on government at all levels to inculcate the habit of nurturing and maintaining our young athletes .

He emphasized on continuity, which he said is very important, adding that without continuity all efforts from this under -15 Youth Games will be futile .He advocated for more age group competition that will ensure the athletes progress as they started their career, saying each state should come in to play their role for these kids to grow.

He revealed that the federation has a duty to take good  care of the athletes having graduated from all the youth competition.

The duty of the federation as a welfare officer of the athletes is to meet the government on behalf of them to make demand, so that they can take care of the athletes.

“I’m excited seeing some of the products of this competition doing the country proud within and outside.”