Seek Sponsorships For Long Distance Races – National 5,000m Champion Urges AFN.

A 5,000m gold medalist at the 67th All Nigeria/Cross River Open Athletics Championships in Calabar in June, Kefas Williams, has urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to seek sponsors for competitions in a bid to improve long distance races participation in the country.

Exxon Mobil Has Contributed a Great Deal to the Development of Athletes in Nigeria.
Exxon Mobil Has Contributed a Great Deal to the Development of Athletes in Nigeria.

Speaking in Lagos, Williams said the AFN should plan towards organising regular competitions in the long distance category, so the youths would be encouraged to build a career in them.

“I am appealing to the federation to assist us by attracting sponsors who can help to develop the event and make it to be taken more serious,” said Williams.

“We’ve got the potential to succeed because the talents are there, but they have not been exposed to enough competitions that would aid their development. By the time we begin to have frequent competitions, I can assure you that a lot of teenagers would pick interest in long distance events.”

He added that the AFN should scout for young talents from the grassroots level and develop them for national and international competition.

“If we really want to succeed, we need to go back to the grassroots and create a formidable plan to discover talents.

“A lot of youths love the long distance races. It is high time we began to look into other areas where we can make the country proud,” Williams noted.

4 COMMENTS