Femi Atoyebi
5 August 2008
Bida — Nigerian athletes for the next West Africa Polytechnics Games (WAPOGA) are favoured to take the lead positions at Institut Polytechnique, Yamousoukro, Cote d'Ivoire venue of the finals. Speaking at the end of the preliminary rounds where six qualifiers emerged in basketball, football and volleyball, chief coach of the host institution (Federal Polytechnic, Bida) Mallam Umar Dangana said the athletes have enough time to prepare for the games, having finished the qualifiers earlier enough. He was specific about his optimism, naming racket games and ball games as the nation's stronghold.
"In West Africa, Nigeria has always played the top role in all aspect and sport is an area where we have always done well. In Cote d'Ivoire, I expect Nigerian polytechnics to occupy the top ten. If you look at the first edition in Lagos, you will notice that we dominated in all categories. I Football, Volleyball and Basketball are games I look forward to because we are going with six teams for each of them. Other countries do not have that luxury. The second area is racket games, which has recently been developed in the country. In all, we have an advantage to excel and with the Nigerians behind us, we promise to do our best."
The coach, who came to the last edition with three athletes but left with one of the best records for individual performance said though Bida will not represent Nigeria in ball games, Nigerians are assured of a clean sweep in tennis.
"I came to the first edition with three athletes and left with two gold medals. The girls who performed the feat are still around and I know they will be eager to prove themselves again. That is a big plus for Nigeria's expectations."
More than five thousand participated in the first edition at Yaba College of Education, Lagos where Nigeria had about 80 per cent of the total athletes. The host came first to give Nigeria victory in the maiden edition. In Cote d'Ivoire, about four thousand are expected with Nigeria taking at least 65 per cent of the total population.
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