The President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, has urged the home-based athletes to work hard to make the national team to the Beijing 2015 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
The world championships would hold from August 22 to 30 at the Birds Nest, in Beijing, China.
“The Beijing World Championships will not be a jamboree; we are going with a lean team,” Ogba is quoted as saying in a statement released on Sunday by the spokesman of the AFN, Kayode Thomas.
“I am impressed at the performances of some of our athletes at the Anambra Golden League meet. I hope they will raise their game at the Kaduna meet.”
The statement then quotes Ogba as adding that only coaches adjudged to be producing top quality athletes would be chosen to accompany the national team to the event.
It added: “In the past we have taken many coaches who are not producing athletes to Games and championships, but the criteria for selection of coaches has changed.
“Only coaches, whose athletes make the team will be considered for places in the National teams.”
Meanwhile, the AFN is working round the clock to ensure that the Kaduna Golden League is a huge success.
Olumide Bamiduro, the Secretary of the federation, confirmed that the National Sports Commission has granted the federation the permission to use of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the meet, scheduled for June 27.
The statement said Bamiduro announced that most of the athletics clubs and state associations have signified their intention to participate in the Kaduna meet.
NAN.