Saturday 9 August 2014

19th AAC: Team Nigeria will top with 12 gold--Alli

COORDINATOR of Team Nigeria's track and field team to the 19th African Athletics Championships, Marrakesh 2014,  which begins on Sunday in Morocco, Yusuf Alli, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will successfully defend the title it won two years ago in Benin Republic.
Speaking at the team's hotel, Golden Tulip, Rawabi, Morocco after the athletes' training session, the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said Marrakesh 2014 is coming at the right time when Nigeria's athletes are in perfect conditioning.
"After studying the entries and looking at our strength and those of our competitors, I'm confident that we will win this championship with about 11 or 12 gold medals," he said.
Alli dismissed fears on the weather condition the athletes will battle with in the north African country.
"I don't think so, I have been there before and I have done it at this level, the weather will not affect us, this is our weather, and our success in Glasgow will serve as morale booster for this championship, we must not forget that the African Championships is a step down compared to the Commonwealth Games," said the former international long jumper.
The national record holder in the long jump with 8.27 metres believes Team Nigeria has what it takes to dominate the sprints, hurdles, quater-mile, relays and the jumps.
"Our athletes are highly motivated and we are ready to go, there are no injuries concern and the athletes are well behaved, With respect to our competitors, I can say this is our championship. I know South Africa is here with a strong team, ditto Egypt, Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and even hosts Morocco, since this championships also serves as the qualifier for the IAAF Athletics World Cup also slated for Marrakesh next month.
"I am confident we will overcome all the oppositions to be crowned the champion of Africa again," said the former Nigeria's captain to 1984 and 1988 olympic Games.
Team Nigeria will parade the likes of the Golden Girl, Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Ese Brume, Dominique Duncan, Mozavous Edwards, Merk Jelks, Regina George and Ogho-Oghene Egwero,
among others at the biennial Games.
.........
Caption: Dominique Duncan, one of Nigeria's athletes vying for honours at Marrakesh 2014.




No comments:

Post a Comment