The Federal Government, yesterday, warned the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to uphold professionalism and ensure strict adherence to the rules governing selection of athletes for the 2023 World Championships billed for Budapest, Hungary.
This comes on the heels of a plea by Godson Brume’s inclusion in the team by his mother, Mrs. Adaka Sally, who pleaded force majeur for her ward’s absence from the trials in Benin City.
Yesterday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, expressed optimism that with the calibre of AFN members, Nigeria would present its best athletes from the trials to compete at the World Championships.
He assured that the Ministry is committed to providing equal opportunity for all athletes, both local and foreign, to compete at the trials with a view to having the best athletes to represent Nigeria at the Competition.
Ismaila added that the Ministry would continue to ensure full implementation of the policies and initiatives put in place by the Federal Government with a view to providing opportunities for the youth to develop their sporting talents in line with the policy thrust of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
Citing AFN’s promise that only athletes at the national trials would be taken to Hungary, the ministry expressed belief that the federation would lead Nigeria to a successful outing at the World Championships.
Meanwhile, the failure of American-based Nigeria speed star, Godson Brume, to appear at the National Trials in Benin City, Edo State, is causing apprehension in his family.
Pleading with the AFN to temper justice with mercy, Godson’s mother explained: “My son did everything he could to be in Benin City for the National Trials, but a combination of circumstances stopped him.”
Sally, a former track and field star, who also played and retired from handball in 2006, revealed that Godson’ stay visa in America expired, and even when he decided to risk it and travel to Nigeria he couldn’t get a flight.
Godson did two sub-10 runs in the build up to the World Championships, and he was the man to beat at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with the 9.90 seconds he did in June.
“It’s a pity he couldn’t make it to Benin City,” said his mother, who is also a technical official at the national trials in Benin City.
“His visa expired and he has been trying to renew it but it was a little late for him to meet up.
“Beside, my son wanted to travel through Atlanta Airport, but there was no flight and in New York, they couldn’t get him a seat. He is pained he couldn’t be here to compete in the national trials, and it is now up to the AFN to decide what to do. They are aware of his predicament. I want the AFN to look at his case and allow him to go to Budapest. This won’t happen again.”
Brume, who studies at the Louisiana State University, is seen as an athlete that can make some impact on Nigeria’s 4x100m team to the World Championships.
Though, AFN officials were angry yesterday following Godson’s absence for the trip to Togo, The Guardian learnt that the federation would meet later to decide if Brume would be given a wild card to Team Nigeria’s Budapest squad.
