Awka – Sixteen athletes from Anambra will feature in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Over Distance competition which holds on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the athletes comprising 13 males and three females are led by Coach John Igboka, of the state athletics team.
Igboka told NAN on Monday in Awka before the team’s departure to Port Harcourt that the athletes would feature in 3,000m, 1,000m, 600m, 300m, 150m and 60m events.
The coach said that members of the team who were all drawn from All Sports Foundation Academy (ASFAN), Nimo, were sponsored by philanthropists.
He said that Anambra did not participate in the previous AFN programmes this year due to non-approval of funds by the Ministry of Sports because of short notice from the AFN.
“The short notice from AFN did not allow the team to meet the protocol for sponsorship by the ministry,’’ he said.
Igboka, however, added that Anambra needed to be part of this event to keep their athletes in shape and forestall their possible defection to states with attractive opportunities.
“We’re in good frame of mind for this competition, the athletes have been training for some time and this is an opportunity for us to assess ourselves.
“Two individuals have agreed to underwrite our trip and these are trustees of ASFAN who had provided the enabling environment for our athletes.
“The time was short and we can’t wait for the ministry, moreover we have lost out in two other programmes of the AFN.
“So, Anambra has to feature so as to secure the athletes from moving to other states,’’ he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Igboka expressed optimism that the team would do Anambra proud at the competition, adding that it would also enable the athletes to garner experience ahead of the National Sports Festival.
NAN reports that Anambra did not participate in the phase two camping in Lagos toward the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil and the Feb. 6 Lagos International Marathon. (NAN)
