ABUJA – Eric Campbell, the High Performance Director, National Sports Commission (NSC) said on Friday Nigeria had intensified effort in selecting a formidable team to win laurels at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Campbell told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that new strategies were being worked out to ensure the country excelled during the competition taking place in Glasgow, Scotland between July 23 and Aug. 3.
“We are assisting with camping, with coaching, nutrition, the things that come along with high performances as well as the structures of the national championships and the selection process.
“Those things that we can have impact on from now to the time of the games.
“We are making sure that the correct team is being selected and being properly prepared.
“I know that the housing is available; we are using it for this camp. I know that some of the equipment have come in.
“It’s going to take some time for everything to be put in place and to let some of the old minds adapt to the new system.
“Once everyone gets on the same page I think things will begin to move a little faster but there have been some roadblocks.
“The physical part of the high performances is there but the theories are being put in place.
“So, those are some of the things that you will see and hopefully they will affect our performance at the Commonwealth Games,’’ Campbell said.
He gave the assurance that the 15 gold medals target set by the National Sports Commission (NSC) could be surpassed once the athletes adhered to instructions.
“The D-G (Gbenga Elegbeleye) is our leader. So, if he wants 15 gold then hopefully we can exceed that. I don’t think you will be going for a competition expecting to lose.
“To be specific and say gold medals is one thing for us; we want a new way of thinking that every single medal is important.
“Obviously, to get the gold is to say that you are the best of the best. That is what we want to happen but our goal is to go in and get more medals.
“So, if we do those things, we can really control the medal outcome,’’ he added.
The NSC hired Campbell and Angie Taylor on Nov. 2, 2013 as its performance directors to assist Nigeria to achieve success in international competitions.
It was the first time that high performance directors were being engaged to oversee the development of elite sports in the country.
The first High Performance Centre in West Africa is being built by the NSC at the Package `B’ of the National Stadium, Abuja, as a science–based support system for elite athletes. (NAN)
