Daily Independent (Lagos)
21 July 2011
Difficulties in obtaining visas into South Korea and Cuba has forced National Sports Commission to cancel its planned training tours to the two Asian and Caribbean nations ahead of the All Africa Games.
South Korea we learnt outlined some stringent visas requirement including that each athlete and the NSC submit bank statements, even when the NSC has submitted requisite note verbal as is required at the diplomatic level.
The NSC saw the latter requirement as an insult on the nation and decided to halt further plans.
On the other hand Cuba agreed to issue entry visas from August 1st, which is way out of the time line already drawn for the contingent.
It however agreed to intensify training at home and engage foreign technical experts to strengthen the output of Nigerian coaches for enhanced performance at the games.
The decisions were some of the resolution reached between the NSC and president/secretaries of the various sports federations earlier listed for the tour in Abuja Thursday.
The meeting also urged the NSC to support the AAG bound teams to participate in competitions within the continent so as to boost the readiness of the athletes, adding that early acclimatization in the Southern Africa country was imperative so as to give the teams a good feel of the climate there.
As a result, the meeting agreed that the contingent will depart for Maputo on August 20 to enable timely adjustment to the conditions. The welfare of the athletes and officials were to get a boost to encourage them at the games.
Meanwhile the president of the federation has been charged to personally supervise the ongoing camping exercise of their different federation.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Nigeria: All Africa Games – No Training Tour