A renowned athletics coach, Tony Osheku, has said that Nigeria is not prepared to win medals at the 2016 Olympic Games which holds in Rio de Jainero, Brazil.
Consequently, he urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to in earnest adopt strategies that could enable the country to win medals at the forthcoming Olympics.
The 2016 Olympic Games are scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Jainero, Brazil.
Osheku, who expressed fear that the country might not win a medal at the quadrennial games, said that issues like preparation and structure should be revisited.
"The country's dismal performance at the recent World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, U.S., is an indication that we are not prepared.
"I am skeptical about our performance at the forthcoming Olympics; four years ago we said we will start preparing for the next Games.
"What we are still seeing is just bragging, and then the fire brigade approach starts a month to the Olympics. We should emulate what top countries are doing in terms of preparation.
"We need to tighten our seat belt if we want to win a medal at the Olympics," he said.
He also disagreed with the notion of holding a national camp, adding that a number of athletes should be assigned to a particular coach for training.
"Coaches should be empowered, I do not believe in bringing all the athletes and coaches to a national camp. Envy also crops up when we are in the camp.
"If a coach is in Lagos, give him at least five athletes to train, check the coach's programme, monitor him but give him a free hand," he said.
Osheku, also said the country was blessed with talented young athletes, noting that the problem was good structure to nurture the athletes.
NAN
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