Adamu Mu’azu, winner of the second edition of Effurun/Warri Peace Marathon on April 29, has appealed to the Federal Government to appoint qualified technocrats into the various sports federations.

Mu’azu, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, made the appeal yesterday in an interview in Warri. He said that such would enhance the nation’s sports development.

The athlete, who ran 30:44 seconds to clinch first position in the 10km race, lamented that government had not shown interest in Marathon.

According to him, Nigeria has athletes that could surpass the records set by countries like Kenya and Ethiopia in marathon if well-funded.

“Our major challenge is lack of support by the government, sports involve money.

“So, I appeal to the government to appoint technocrats to head sports ministries, commissions, federations because if the right people are there, they will not take sports for granted,” he said.

The 28-year-old athlete said he had won several medals at both national and international competitions.

“I was a defending champion in the Okpekpe 10km Road Race; I participated in the 2012 National Sports Festival where I won bronze for Plateau, my state. I just returned from an invitational tournament in Gwanzou in China where I competed with athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Eretria, Uganda and Botswana and I won four gold medals,” he said. (NAN)

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE

DATE:05/04/2017