Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Coach, Stephen Nuhu has called on the organisers of the 10km Okpekpe Road race to camp Nigerian athletes by camping them ahead of the race slated for May 16 in Edo State.
In a chat on Thursday, Nuhu expressed concern at the dominance of the East African athletes in long distance races in Africa and especially the 10km Okpekpe Road Race, which comes up annually in Edo State.
"It is appalling to see Nigerian athletes lagging behind in long distance races due to funds constraints. We have athletes that can perform exceedingly well if giving all the enabling tools. I am sad that the East Africans cart away all the major cash prizes while Nigerian athletes settle for crumbs.
“Presently we have started training in Jos for the Okpekpe Road race since two months ago.
But I will be happy if the organisers can help our athletes
by camping them ahead of the race. The athletes will perform better if
they are camped together.
It is not right coming from their various homes for training. I can assure you that our athletes will give a good account of themselves if camped by the organisers of the Okpekpe Road Race,” he stated.
Meanwhile, eighteen athletes are expected to participate in this year's edition of the race, while some of them are expected at the Integrity Marathon Race slated for Sunday.
In the same vein, cash prizes ranging from $25,000(1st Prize Winner),$15,000(2nd Prize Winner) and $10,000 (3rd Prize
Winner) have been earmarked for the 2015 edition of the Road Race just as female athletes participating at the 3rd edition would also cart home cash prizes ranging from $15,000(1st Prize),$ 10,000(2nd Prize) and $8,000(3rd Prize).
Edo State indigenes would also benefit from special cash prizes earmarked for them. The 1st Edo indigene to cross the tape, would go home with a cash prize of one hundred thousand naira in the male category while the first female settles for seventy-five thousand naira.
The first runners up goes home with the sum of seventy-five thousand naira in the male category, while in the female category the athlete goes home with fifty thousand naira.
It is not right coming from their various homes for training. I can assure you that our athletes will give a good account of themselves if camped by the organisers of the Okpekpe Road Race,” he stated.
Meanwhile, eighteen athletes are expected to participate in this year's edition of the race, while some of them are expected at the Integrity Marathon Race slated for Sunday.
In the same vein, cash prizes ranging from $25,000(1st Prize Winner),$15,000(2nd Prize Winner) and $10,000 (3rd Prize
Winner) have been earmarked for the 2015 edition of the Road Race just as female athletes participating at the 3rd edition would also cart home cash prizes ranging from $15,000(1st Prize),$ 10,000(2nd Prize) and $8,000(3rd Prize).
Edo State indigenes would also benefit from special cash prizes earmarked for them. The 1st Edo indigene to cross the tape, would go home with a cash prize of one hundred thousand naira in the male category while the first female settles for seventy-five thousand naira.
The first runners up goes home with the sum of seventy-five thousand naira in the male category, while in the female category the athlete goes home with fifty thousand naira.
The 3rd place, however, settles for fifty
thousand naira and twenty-five thousand naira respectively.
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