By our reporter 17-6-2025
As participating countries prepare for the CAA U-18/U-20 championships billed for July 16-20 in Abeokuta Ogun State, former Nigerian athlete Enefiok Udo-Obong, said more emphasis should be on development of talents for the future.
Udo-Obong a 4x400m relay gold medalist at 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia noted that the CAA junior championships is a developmental program and not a do or die affair for official to be thinking about results alone.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Udo-Obong, who is the LOC Technical Committee chairman for the championships said the benefits is far beyond the result.
“The benefits of the U-18/U-20 athletics championships in any level cannot be underestimated” he told the Media Committee news team.
“It’s the beginning where young and developing athletes get their first chance at exposure, international exposure, the first feel of pressure, and this is by no means a little win developing the mental toughness, the competitive mobility of an athlete.
“Competing at such underage tournament is at times termed the identification phase, the development phase. It is the beginning of the exposure phase and the ability to weather this type of pressure, whether it is in terms of adversity, expectation, or the strict competition rules, regimented kind of programme, and still succeed.
“It is part of the process in building talented athletes. So the experience gathered by young athletes can by no means be overestimated.
“Results are not really the most important thing at this level. It is what the athlete can learn and the experience gathered are the most important thing at this level. And how they navigate through this is what will make them better athletes in future.”
Over 500 athletes from 53 African countries are expected to participate in the competition that will run at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.