A total of 85 athletes are on a road trip to Abidjan for the 2019 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18 and U20 Championships taking place this week due to lack of funds.
On March 13th 2019, www.aclsports.com reported the certainty of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria settling for a road trip to Abidjan if funds were not readily available for the trip.
ACLSports.com gathered that the Ministry sent a notice to the AFN last week informing them about the non availability of funds for the Championship.
Consequently, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria were made to find a way out to enable the junior athletes attend the event thereby resorting to a road trip.
The journey was agreed after the AFN met with the athletes and coaches on Thursday.
Speaking to the technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria while on their way out of Nigeria, Tunde Adeleye, he revealed to www.aclsports.com how the Federation have been left on their own with no support from the Ministry.
“We have sorted ourselves as a federation no one from the Ministry is helping us and we are doing our thing ourselves,” he said.
“The Ministry told us no funds so we had to do it ourselves but we are good, the federation is on top of their game we already on our way.”
Adeleye opined that the athletes won’t allow the ministry’s neglect deter them from making the country proud.
“The 85 athletes are happy and motivated since no one cares about them. They see it as a challenge to try and conquer and do their best to make themselves and Nigeria proud .
Adeleye added,” The federation will somewhat do what it can to take care of may be not the usual allowances.
The African Athletics Confederation Under-18 and Under-20 African Championships will take place from April 16th to 20th in Abidjan.
