South East Sports Directors eager to host Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classics
...To decide on venue today as South South, South West show interest in Classics
...AFN board member, Okorie completes athletics office, hostel in Ebonyi
By Gowon Akpodonor with additional information by FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG
The five Directors of Sports in the South-East Zone of Nigeria are all yearning to stage the inaugural edition of the Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classics (TIMAC).
The Initiator and sponsor of the Classics Victor Okorie made this known on Tuesday in a chat with the Guardian Newspaper in Lagos.
Okorie, a board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), is sponsoring the Classic in honour of the late Tobias Igwe, who is rated as one of Nigeria’s greatest athletics managers of all time.
“All of them want the Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classic to take place in their states, but we have to settle for one venue. Maybe, by next year, it will rotate among the States.”
The AthIetics Classic, which was initially meant for athletes from all the five South Eastern States, is now attracting interest of athletes from the South-South and South-West.
The Classics will be held on June 3rd and 4th shortly after the 22nd National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games.
“One major issue that will be x-ray today by all the Sports Directors of the five South Eastern States is the venue of the Classics.”
“The Tobias Igwe Memorial Athletics Classics is a massive event,” Okorie said.
“Everybody wants to be part of the Classics to show their respect for the late Tobias Igwe for the good work he did for Nigerian athletics.”
Victor Okorie, who is the Performance Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), went on to add that the scope of the Classics may be expanded.
“Some foreign-based athletes might be coming from the United States and Europe to participate in it. All the directors of sports in the South-East are associating with the Classic as an avenue to build their athletes.
Meanwhile, Okorie, who is in Nigeria to put the finishing touches to the athletics office and hostel that he is constructing for track and field stars in Ebonyi State, stated that all directors of Sports in the South-East will converge on Enugu to deliberate on the venue for the event.
THE. MAN - VICTOR OKORIE
★ A dedicated athIete and sportsman, a coach, a proficient and quintessential athletes manager
★ One of the most gifted hurdlers discovered and nurtured to stardom by the late Tobias Igwe, in Enugu during the golden era of Nigerian athletics
★ Okorie, a representative of the South-East on the Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)
★ A silver medallist at 2003 African Games
★ Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Performance Director
WHY THE CLASSICS & THE HOSTELS
✓ “I decided to embark on this project as a way of building a formidable athletics foundation for youths of Ebonyi State.”
✓ “It is my little way of contributing to youth empowerment not only in Ebonyi State but also the South-East and Nigeria as a country.”
HIS BELIEVES AND GOALS
✓ The current leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) have what it takes to lift Nigeria sports from the woods if supported and encouraged
✓ Chief Tonobok Okowa should be supported in his transformation agenda of the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria
✓ Supports Okowa's second term bid as President of AFN
✓ Nigeria athletics is a gold mine and the country will soon first its prestigious, enviable and alluring athletics status again
NOTABLE PROTÉGÉS & MENTEES OF LATE COACH TOBIAS IGWE
• Mary Onyali-Omagbemi
• Raphael Ihunaegbo
• Uchenna Emedolu
• Davidson Ezenwa
• Clement Chukwu
• Tina Iheagwam
• Charity Opara
It's noteworthy to mention that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is fully backing this laudable initiative by Victor Okorie, who we understand is seeking a re-election as a board member of AFN as a representative of the South East Zone on the board the will be put in place in June in Asaba, Delta State, South South, Nigeria.
Comments
Post a Comment