Head coach of the Nigeria junior team at the 11th African Junior Championships in Athletics, Tobias Igwe, has called for more competitions for the athletes to prepare them ahead of the busy Commonwealth Games next year.
Team Nigeria finished atop the medals table with nine gold, seven silver and three bronze medals at the championships which ended in Mauritius on Sunday.
Igwe, fondly called Toblow, said the athletes have what it takes to excel at major championships if they are made to improve on their performances at the junior championships.
"It was obvious we went to the event with the best athletes we have. They were willing to win and prove themselves.
I only wish we can continue with grooming them for better performances through specialised programmes that will run into next year," Toblow, who is credited with the discovery of Mary Onyali, said.
The veteran coach, who had led Nigeria to three Olympic Games in the past, dedicated the team's victory to President Goodluck Jonathan, saying Nigerian sports had improved since he came to power.
Toblow also called on the president to intervene in his predicament in Abia State where his appointment was terminated by the state government two years ago.
He said, "I really need the Presidency to help me resolve the problems between me and the Abia State government. I served as the state's athletics head coach for 13 years only to be sent packing without benefits because I'm not from the state. This is not fair."
