*Salutes Inclusion of home-based athletes in team
By; MIKE MBONYE, Accra
Former African, Commonwealth and Olympic medallist in 100m and 200m sprint events, Mary Onyali has said that she is impressed with performances of track and field athletes at the 13th African Games.
Onyali spoke in Accra, Ghana during the athletics events at the African Games.
“From the athlete’s perspective, they have been giving their best. This is an Olympic year, so this being our first major African championship, we see this as our African Olympics.
“ The athletes are prepared. They have been dropping fast times here, personal best, national records and we are just looking for a World record from somebody,` she said.
Onyali commended Ghana for organising the games, saying despite initial challenges; the country has given Africa a very entertaining session.
On Team Nigeria, the former African sprint queen said her athletes have done well so far.
“ In athletics, Nigeria is leading on the medals table and we hope to continue the medal haul up until the final day. We usually don’t miss the top three medal table in athletics because athletics is the mainstay of team Nigeria,“ she said.
Onyali said she is impressed with successes recorded by home-based athletes in track and field events.
She said that from the look of things, some of them will become big stars in future if they remain focused, determined and dedicated.
“I am extremely happy with the Games. Majority of our athletes are home-based and home grown.
“This is a testament to the fact that our foreign based athletes, whom are majority student athletes, if not released by their schools to attend events like this, we usually feel like we didn’t have anybody and we start losing hope.
“This year, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has deemed it fit to believe and trust in our home based athletes and coaches.
“ I am happy that we are beginning to see that there is really some good things coming out of our home-based athletes and I want this to continue, so that we don`t continue to rely on our foreign based athletes to perform,” she said.
Onyali advised home-based athletes to use their first outing at the African Games as a bench mark and those who did not make the team, not to relent because the future is bright.
She also commended the coaches for doing a great work on the athletes.
