..Participants express worry
By OCHEI MATTHEW, Asaba
Less than 24hours to the commencement of the 21st Africa Senior Athletics Championships to hold in Asaba Delta State, South-South Nigeria, the Steven Keshi stadium, venue of the competition, is yet to be completed.
Our correspondent who visited the stadium in Asaba, yesterday to ascertain the level of work at the complex, observed that the job will not be completed as scheduled.
This development is already creating doubts in the minds of sports lovers, particularly some participating countries that the event may not run smoothly.
Some participants who spoke to our correspondent expressed dismay over level of work done at the stadium and poor preparedness towards the championship, especially on the part of the local organising committee (LOC)
The participants noted that this event did not come by surprise or eventuality or by compulsion but rather, that it was planned and in a deliberate manner for about a year, yet the stadium not being ready for the competition, describing the stadium environment as eyesore before the guests.
They added that if the the venue of the competition (stadium) is in this shape, how other environments or sightsee areas would be.
Chairman, LOC for the championship, Mr Solomon Ogba in his world press briefing told journalists that work is still going on at the stadium, assuring visitors that by Wednesday August 1, the stadium would be hundred percent ready.
He disclosed that out of the 54 African countries billed to participate in the championship, 52 have already arrived Nigeria.
Earlier, while performing the symbolic hoisting of flags of participating nations, governor Okowa said that after months of strident efforts to make the stadium ready for the event, everything that will make the championship hitch-free has been put in place.
“This championship means a lot to the people of Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, but, particularly, to us as government, Asaba is agog as we look forward to host a successful championship”
“In the last several months, we have been on our toes, working to make the stadium ready, we thank God that we are ready” the governor said.
“It is a thing of joy that most of our guest have already arrived and by Wednesday, August 1, 2018, the championship will commence,” he added .