President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Team Nigeria for the All Africa Games 2015 to return to the country with only gold or silver medals, The Nation reports.
This was revealed by the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) President Abu Gummel at the unveiling of Team Nigeria kits for the Games.
According to Gummel, Buhari said:“Do not go below second place!”
From left: Director, Federation And Elite Athletes Department, National Sports Commission (NSC), Mrs Hauwa-Kulu Adeyemi; Director-general of NSC, Malam Alhassan Yakmut and President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Alhaji Habu Gumel, presenting kits meant for Nigerian athletes for all Africa games, in Abuja on Thursday (27/8/15). (PHOTO Source: NAN)
Gummel continued: “My happiness is that the National Sports Commission (NSC) provided the kitting even before the departure for the Games. Because sometimes it is when you are at the venue that you get your kits. This time around you are carrying them with you.
“So, let me first and foremost congratulate the Director General and his team for a job well done. It is an excellent job. Which means we are moving like an aircraft. Action! Action!! Action!!! And all we need from you athletes is to retaliate. When you are in Congo it is action! Action!! Action!!!”
On this President’s farewell message to the athletes, Gummel said: “The President has given a marching order that Nigeria must have the first or second position at the All African Games. The last time I was here, I was even saying we should try and maintain our usual position, third. But now it is no more. It is first or second. So, please let us go there and make this country proud.
Nigerian Athletes at the kit presentation ceremony PHOTO credit: NAN
“With the action that the DG put in front of him and with the way he is moving, we should give him all the necessary support. We should follow him. We should give him all the support. Because his success is our success.”
He enjoined the team to work hard to achieve success. He said: “Jointly we have to work together. Jointly we have to go to Congo and go and make ourselves happy, make ourselves proud. So that we are proud that we are Nigerians. So that by the time we are coming back many people will be at the airport to receive us.
“So, please let us do our best and make the President of this country happy. And let us fulfil that march order he gave to us that we are able to achieve it. I believe by the grace of God we can achieve it.”
He praised the NSC for the kits: “I am happy to see these kits, arriving at the right time, cleared, ready for presentation and they are excellent and the quality is good. By the time we are there now, I am sure many others wil start to envy you when you start wearing it. It is an excellent job that the National Sports Commission has ddone. So, National Sports Commission well done. And I want to wish us goodluck and success at the All African Games.”
In a related development, the NSC has warned athletes at the upcoming All Africa Games against unwholesome practices especially doping.
No comments:
Post a Comment