Nigeria’s Golden Athletics Era Has Arrived — Kogi-Born Coach Oluyemi Sule Predicts More Glory for Team Nigeria
Kogi-born athletics coach and AFN board member Coach Oluyemi Sule says Nigerian athletics has entered a golden era, praising the depth of talent and predicting more outstanding performances at the Commonwealth Games Trials.
Nigeria’s athletics landscape is witnessing a remarkable transformation, and the country may be entering one of the most successful chapters in its sporting history, according to Kogi-born athletics coach and board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Coach Oluyemi Sule.
Sule made the declaration while speaking during the ongoing AFN Commonwealth Games Trials at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, where Nigeria’s top athletes are competing for places on the national team.
The respected coach expressed confidence in the quality and readiness of the athletes, saying the performances recorded so far at the trials only represent the beginning of what promises to be a thrilling display of talent and competitiveness.
According to Sule, many athletes are carefully managing their energy during the early stages of the competition, with their focus firmly placed on qualifying for the finals where they are expected to deliver their best performances.
«“This is just the beginning. Our athletes are in good shape, they are experienced and they understand what it takes to compete at this level. The major target now is qualification, and when they get to the finals, they will give everything,” Sule said.»
He noted that the impressive times being recorded by athletes should not be considered their peak, stressing that several competitors still have more capacity to produce better results as the competition progresses.
The AFN board member added that the level of preparation and quality of athletes participating in the trials reflects the steady growth of athletics in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Athletics Growth Reaching New Heights
Sule described the current period as a defining moment for Nigerian athletics, pointing to the emergence of world-class athletes and Nigeria’s increasing visibility on the global stage as proof of the sport’s progress.
“Nigeria is living its best life in athletics right now. We have never been at this level before,” he said.
He explained that having Nigerian athletes among the world’s leading performers in various events demonstrates that the country is moving in the right direction and building a stronger foundation for future success.
According to him, although Nigeria has experienced remarkable moments in athletics history, the present generation stands out because of the depth of talent available across different events.
“Even the era we often refer to as our golden period was not quite like this. The quality of athletes we have today gives us confidence that the future of Nigerian athletics is very bright,” he added.
More Fireworks Expected at Commonwealth Games Trials
Looking ahead to the remaining stages of the Commonwealth Games Trials, Coach Sule predicted that fans should expect more remarkable performances as athletes battle for qualification spots.
He expressed optimism that favourable conditions would allow competitors to showcase their full abilities and produce memorable moments for Nigerian sports.
“I expect even more firepower. If the weather is favourable, we should witness something exciting from these athletes,” he said.
The ongoing trials have continued to attract attention from sports stakeholders as athletes seek to earn national team selection and represent Nigeria at international competitions.
With a new generation of talents emerging alongside established stars, expectations remain high that Nigeria’s athletics programme will continue its upward trajectory and strengthen its position as one of Africa’s leading forces in global athletics.