Distance runners in dire need of support, says Coach

Stephen Nuhu, a renowned long distance coach said on Wednesday that long distance athletes in the country were in dire need of support to enable them to be among the world’s best.

Nuhu, who spoke on his expectation from Nigerian athletes in the 2019 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, said he was optimistic that the athletes would record tremendous improvement if adequately encouraged.

Speaking in Lagos that the country was blessed with talents but lacked the needed support for improvements.

“the 2019 Access Bank Marathon scheduled for February will surely record tremendous improvement from Nigerian athletes.

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“With improved time and positions among the international athletes, you will agree that Nigeria has great potential to conquer in the distance events.

“I must state here that Nigeria’s distance athletes need very urgent support. We can beat the world if just a little more attention is given to us,’’ he said.

Nuhu said that it was disheartening that the funds needed to camp distance runners to ensure that they become world beaters were not available.

“If we are camped, we will surprise the world. Is it not sad that the country continues to remain blind when even N2 million can raise at least three to four podium athletes at global level within 12 to 16 months?

“I have always said that we have very wonderful terrains/climate and diets that we require to excel in this country,’’ he said.

He, however, said that he was comfortable with the current performance of distance athletes in the country, saying that all they needed was adequate encouragement.

“We are asking for support, no one has come out to help our plight. It is also sad that we are featuring only three events in the middle and long distance events at the National Sports Festival in Abuja,’’ he said. (