Olympian Mary Onyali has applauded the successful conduct of the just-concluded Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos, attributing the smooth organisation of the championship to early preparation and strong collaboration among key sports bodies.
Onyali, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated track and field icons, said the partnership between the National Sports Commission (NSC), the AFN and the Elite Podium Board was central to the success of the trials, which brought together some of the country’s finest athletes in the race for places at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, reports Daily Independent.
“From top to bottom, early preparation plus coordinated and cordial relationship between these three entities — the NSC, AFN and the Elite Podium Board, made the difference,” Onyali said.
The former Nigerian sprint queen also praised the welfare arrangements put in place for athletes who met the qualification standards set by the AFN under the stewardship of Chief Tonobok Okowa, noting that the provision of accommodation, feeding and transportation helped create the right environment for the athletes to perform at their best.
“Better welfare package was provided. All invited athletes that met the standard set by the AFN were accommodated, fed and transportation was provided to and from the hotel and stadium,” she stated.
According to Onyali, the athletes equally played their part by arriving in Lagos mentally and physically ready to compete for national selection.
“On the athletes’ part, they came prepared and hungry to prove their worth,” she said.
She, however, urged the athletes not to lose focus after the trials, insisting that the real assignment lies ahead in Glasgow, where Nigeria will be aiming to improve on its previous Commonwealth Games gold-medal haul.
“To sustain this tempo, they must stay hungry for bigger success by staying focused in their training while in camp, as the real goal is to get their hands on those gold medals awaiting them in Glasgow,” Onyali said.
“Our plan is to surpass our last gold-medal haul at the Commonwealth Games.”
Onyali also reserved special praise for the AFN media team for its extensive coverage and timely dissemination of information before, during and after the trials.
“Kudos to the AFN media team for their massive publicity and prompt updates before, during and after the trials. Please do not relent until we reach the zenith,” she added.
The successful trials have set the tone for Nigeria’s preparations for Glasgow, with the AFN, NSC and Elite Podium Board now expected to build on the momentum by assembling a strong team capable of delivering medals for the country.
