High performance technical director for Nigerian athletics, Mr. Eric Campbell, yesterday attributed Nigeria’s failure to win any medal at the just concluded World Indoor Championship held in Sopot, Poland, to ‘inexperience’ of a few athletes who were fielded at the tournament.
About 13 Nigerian athletes took part at the championship which placed Nigeria on 26th position at the end of the competition.
Campbell, who assumed office few months ago after he was appointed by the National Sports Commission (NSC), observed that the country has abundant talents which if properly guided would produce many results in near future.
He said: “Winning a medal is not just a day’s job. We took few athletes to Poland for the indoor championship quite alright and they did quite well with the world records set at the competition. Personally, I did not expect them to get to where they got to not to talk of winning medals.
“Regina is still an upcoming athlete and it is my belief that she can only get better. Some of them are in their early 20’s. What they need now is exposure and encouragement. For the Nigerian government to involve high performance team to help guide the athletes is very commendable. Already, we have a programme and with time, it will start yielding results.
Ahead of next month’s athletics relay championship in California, the American-born tactician said: “The few athletes who are expected to represent the country will be in camp later this week to begin preparations.”
“My goal has always been to get medals with as many as athletes who are at my disposal. If I am given 50 athletes to prepare for the next Commonwealth Games, I will expect to have 50 medals. All that is needed is patience.”