By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Ahead of the XX1 Commonwealth Games slated for April 4 to 15 this year in Gold Coast, Australia, Athletes presently in camp have been charged to be disciplined and shun all sorts of immorality to enable them win laurels for the country.
The advice was given recently by the Director of Field and Elite Athletes Department ,Ministry of Youth and Sports,Tayo Oreweme when she visited the athletes in their Lagos camp to assess their level of preparedness for the second most important Games after the Olympics.
According to her, they cannot afford to fail the nation because the President has approved all funds needed for the championship and they are expected to reciprocate the gesture by going for medal haul in Gold Coast.
“My advice to all of you is to believe in yourselves ,concentrate in your training ,don’t be timid and avoid all those immoral acts that will be detrimental to your success.
“The President has approved all monies required for the Games and for the first time in many years, your camp allowances were settled before the end of the month and all kits provided in advance and as such,you have no excuse to fail”,she warned.
She noted that the athletes must stop seeing themselves as champions but rather think if how to surpass their previous records as athletes from other countries are intensifying efforts to dethrone them.
“As you prepare for the Games, those of you who are champions must stop seeing themselves as record holders because your opponents are preparing not only to dethrone you but to break your record. So, you should rather think of how to surpass the record”, she stressed.
Oreweme also admonished the coaching crew to take their jobs serious because they will be rewarded based on the performance of their athletes.
“We expect much from the coaches because only those of them with the highest number of athletes are in camp.They should also realise that they will be rewarded based on the performance of their athletes”She concluded.
In their response, some of the coaches and athletes while commending the Sports Ministry for taking care of their welfare,promised that they will not fail the nation in Australia.
Five sports namely: Power Lifting, Table Tennis, Para- table tennis, boxing and basketball are presently camped in Lagos.
