[ad_1]
James Magayi in Lagos @magayijim
Confusion and disappointments tainted the eve of the 21st African Athletics Championships that start today in Asaba, Nigeria while the following day. Shambolic organization left the participants stuck at a few hours in Lagos. Participants from at least 10 countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Rwanda and Cameroon, spent the day waiting at the conference. # 39; airport. Part of the Moroccan delegation for games abandoned after two days of waiting and returned to his country.
The chaotic travel arrangements cast a huge doubt on the quality of athletics at the Stephen Keshi stadium of exhausted and discouraged athletes. the local committee of overwhelmed organization struggled to do something.
Kenya is looking for a fourth win while Nigeria and South Africa are looking for their 10th. The Kenyan delegation left Nairobi for Lagos on Monday morning, but could not connect to Asaba upon arrival. The team spent the night in a crowded hotel in Lagos where three people shared a bed.
Attempts to bring the team to Asaba on Tuesday morning also turned against her as the LOC failed to secure enough flights. Twenty-two members of the delegation took aboard a 17h flight, the rest having transpired at the airport without adequate nutrition. Reports that there are no more flights to Asaba until today have caused more frustration on the part of Kenyan athletes and some have been involved in an altercation with Kenyan athletes. Airport that required to return home or to immediately go to the place of the event. Last night, officials from the Kenya team were still divided as to whether to go home to participate in the games.
Several athletes including Julius Yego, Aaron Koech, Mark Otieno and Alphus Kishoyian made light jogging and stretching at the airport as frustrations grew.
Despite the setbacks, Kenyan head coach Stephen Mwaniki is confident of a good performance. fresh, having listened to them for the last 14 days. Mwaniki was the coach when Kenya won its third and final African title in 2010 in Nairobi. He hopes to replicate the round table eight years ago in Asaba.
The first medal is expected in the men's 10,000m final tonight, where three highly skilled novices will fly the Kenya flag. Vincent Rono, Josphat Kibbett and Kipsang Temoi have the arduous task of recovering the 10,000m title from South Africa when they take the track at 8pm today.
Temoi talked about his chances before tonight's 25-lap race. "We have lost precious time in which much could be achieved, but I hope to have a medal because I have been training and prepared for a long time, and I do not want the events of the last two days to ruin my chances. of medals, "he said.
Stephen Mokoka scored 28: 02.97 to take gold two years ago with Kenyan Wilfred Kimitei confined to the money Ferguson Rotich , Emmanuel Korir and Jonathan Kitilit will compete for the men's 800m final from 9pm
In the morning, team captain Aaron Koech and William Mbevi are lined up for the first leg of the 400m Men's hurdles The next rider, Maximilla Imali, will lead Kenya's medal quest in the women's 400m alongside Veronica Mutua and Nivean Michiana, and Jared Momanyi and Alphas Kishoyian will then challenge in the men's equivalent.
Source link
