Asaba 2018: Ogba, CAA President Promise Best African Championships
The Oasis Reporters
August 1, 2018
By Aloysius Okerieke, Asaba
The Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 21st African Senior
Athletics Championship, Solomon Ogba has given assurances that Asaba 2018
will not only live up to expectations but will surpass previous events hosted on the continent.
Ogba gave the pledge at the CAA press conference held on Monday at the
Media center of the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
The LOC boss said though there remains a few touches still being perfected, all
will be ready ahead of the August 1 opening ceremony at the Gov. Okowa
Main Bowl at the newly completed Stephen Keshi Stadium.
He said: “This is a record-breaking championship because we have exceeded
all the benchmarks given
“We have like 52 countries, 48 of which were around for the DRM
“About 90% of the athletes expected are already in the country and we have
a record number of foreign journalists who have come to cover this championship”.
In a press statement issued by the Head of media and publicity, Olukayode
Thomas, Ogba revealed some of the innovations in place to make CAA Asaba
2018 a success.
“We are also going to mix sports and entertainment for the next five days
“For the first time, we are introducing prize monies
“We are very happy with the cooperation we have received from the
journalists; the IAAF and the CAA will be running training for the media
practitioners and we are happy about that.
On his part, CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum admitted that he is
surprised with what Asaba has put in place to host the continent; adding that
best of African athletics will be on parade from August 1-5
“I visited the stadium (Stephen Keshi) several months ago but I never
thought it could host a championship of this magnitude. We express our
profound gratitude to the Delta state governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
“I also met the Sports minister, Solomon Dalung who told me the Federal
Government will also support this event, so we are grateful to the
President of the country
The CAA President said it was delightful to have the best legs on the continent in Asaba and he assured that Africa will get the best of representation at the Intercontinental Cup in Ostrava in September.
“The best athletes of Africa are already here, and we are going to select a strong team for the Intercontinental Cup that would be competing against the rest of the world.
South Africa are the defending champions of the African Senior Athletics having hosted and won the last edition on home soil in Durban.
