Yusuf Alli, a former Commonwealth long jump champion, on Friday said that Nigeria stood a chance of excelling at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games if the needful steps were taken.
Alli told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that if the authorities could nurture the abundant budding talents in the country the goal would definitely be a reality.
But he expressed disappointment with the fact that things were usually delayed until the last minute before action was taken.
“If we are serious about winning a medal, probably some few athletes can be contacted and given some training that could spur them to stardom since they are professionals.
“I think if we put our acts together and probably start our preparations on time, then I think we can get one or two gold medals at the Games.
“What we are doing right now is what we missed like 15 or 20 years ago,” he told NAN.
In the area of grassroots development of talented athletes, the former champion told NAN that steps were being taken to nurture a new generation of athletes for the nation.
“We currently have a crop of U-17 and U-20 athletes that we are grooming to fill the vacuum that could arise when the older athletes eventually leave the stage.’’
Alli also told NAN that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) was currently engaged in series of youth programmes to improve the capacity of athletes under its tutelage.
He said that Nigeria was likely to have a world class long jumper in the not too distant future only if the right steps were taken by the authorities.
The world class long jumper concluded by saying that Nigeria was likely to have a new world class jumper at the Games that would surpass his record.
“I think it is possible but I think I probably have to coach that person because I have coached someone in the past that jumped over 8m in this country.
“If we are serious about it and everything is right, I think we have a lot of athletes that can do that. (NAN)
Culled from leadership news paper.
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