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By Onomiguren Agbamu
The Organisers of a five-day athletics events, tagged ‘’Making Of Champions, MTN Champs Season Two’’ has revealed that over one thousand athletes will be competing for the MTN Champs Season 2 from one hundred schools in various categories.
The event, which will be held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, with adequate arrangements that have been put in place for the smooth take-off.
Speaking at a news conference in Asaba, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa said the event is key to the forthcoming African Games, and the Olympics, and it will serve as a build up for the continental and global events.
According to him, ” We know that the African Games is coming up, and by the grace of God, we are going to have our national trials for the athletes that will be going to the African Games, and we are doing it in collaboration with sponsors”
He added ” We hope that our home-based athletes that will be here, we see what they can do, and , for us to select those that will be in camps for the African Championship that will represent us in Ghana, and it will also help us to prepare for the Olympics”.
Tonobok however, advised that the athletes should be careful, not to sustain injuries and hope to see more surprises like in Abuja.
Also speaking at the event, the Representative of the Nigeria School Sports Federation, and Delta State Coordinator of the Federation, Mrs. Justina Ishaka expressed delight for the platform provided for school children to display their talents, she said a good number of public and private schools had been encouraged to register for the events.
Earlier, Delta State Commissioner for youths development, Isaac Agbateyimiro, noted that the state was ready to provide a befitting hosting for the Making of Champions athletics events, he stressed that the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is committed to promoting sports.
Just as he noted that Delta state is richly endowed with raw talents and would continue to contribute significantly to sports development in the country.
The Country Director of the Making of Champions, Brian Anigbo noted that the project since its inception had done a lot for the country through collaboration with relevant partners, especially in the area of athletics.
He maintained that athletics has been a pivotal moment for us in Making of Champions, adding that MTN, as a brand, has stood behind sports in Nigeria, and it is doing great things.
The Senior Manager, Brands, Media and Sponsorship, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Friday Okuwe revealed that the choice of Delta State as the Host Venue for the second edition of Making of Champions was informed by the talents abound in the state, and the success story of the state in sports in the country.
Okuwe explained that the event, secondary schools athletics competition, is a national development intervention designed to unearth future Olympics champions for the country, and stand a great chance to win scholarship, and be trained in the best schools abroad.
In his words, “”We have designed this to discover home-grown athletes, and also support them with all the necessary training and exposure that they need to excel both in athletics and academics. So, MTN sponsorship of this event is actually in line, and it is consistent with our brand story, and history of supporting local talents in different areas, and helping them to fulfill their global aspirations”.
The event will take place in four states; Delta (Asaba), Kaduna, Ibadan and Port Harcourt, to qualify for the grand finals.”, added Okuwe.
