AFN plans to employ 12 ex-Olympians
He told sports journalists that the ex-Olympians would work as zonal coaches, with two of them being deployed to each of the country’s six geo-political zones. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 50-year-old Egbunike is a former Nigerian sprinter, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at […]
He told sports journalists that the ex-Olympians would work as zonal coaches, with two of them being deployed to each of the country’s six geo-political zones.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 50-year-old Egbunike is a former Nigerian sprinter, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, U.S.
He was in Maputo, Mozambique, during the 10th All-Africa Games to assess Nigerian team’s performance in athletics and make recommendations to the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“Egbunike is being expected to come home from his base in the U.S. to start work as soon as possible. But he is not going to work alone.
“We are looking into getting him here as the chief coach, to be supported by 12 other ex-Olympians, who will be in the zones,’’ Ogba said.
He said the AFN was already looking into the possibilities of getting the new coaches to have a coaching course to help them in their work.
“We are also working with Rotimi Obajimi, who is an IAAF Coaching Instructor, for us to have a coaching course so that they can be certified.
“This is because we are all aware of the fact that you cannot claim to be a coach just because you are a former athlete.
“We have already written to the IAAF to allow us do the course, so that the coaches can get a form of certification from them,’’ the AFN president said.
He said he was hopeful that the future of Nigerian athletics would be better assured with Egbunike and the others working for the federation.
“We will get them to work with Egbunike, and with him and all the ex-internationals working together for the federation, we will surely get the best in the near future,’’ Ogba said.