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The first Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tafida Gadzama says the coming on board of Premium Trust Bank as a sponsor of the federation will usher in a new era for athletes and officials.
Gadzama, a former African U20 400m champion and Olympics 4x400m gold medal winner was not happy with the boycott by some of Nigeria’s top home based athletes of the AFN Golden League final in Uyo at the weekend but assured he and his colleagues on the board of the AFN are concerned about how athletes have been treated in the last two decades and believes there is now light at the end of the tunnel.
“I am happy Premium Trust Bank is finally going to become a sponsor of the federation 10 months after we were told they have signed a deal with us,” began the 1999 African Games 4x400m champion.
Gadzama said he and some notable former-internationals on the board have been talking to make sure our athletes are the priority henceforth and must be adequately rewarded for trying to project the image of the federation. “Gone are the days when athletes were paid N40, 000 as top prize money. If our road runners can be earning N1, 00000 and N500, 000, why can’t those running on the track earn as much as N200, 000 for coming first in each leg of the Golden League and N500, 000 in the final.
“We have resolved that they will be accommodated in standard hotels, provided with a transport subsidy payable on arrival at the competition venue. Their coaches will also not be left out. The good thing is that most of these things have been done in the past, especially during our time when we were running in the AFN Classics which the Golden League has become a poor version of.’
