ALL roads will lead to Ilorin Township Stadium Saturday, as athletes from various parts of the federation converge for the fourth leg of the 2013 Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)/Solid Works Limited Golden League. Over 400 athletes are expected to do battle at the Ilorin meet.

Former hurdler and ex-Delta State Director of Sports, Seigha Porbeni has challenged the athletes to use tomorrow’s meet in Ilorin to better their performance, which they set in Benin last week.

Athletes are expected to compete in 16 events, which includes the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100mh, 400mh and 5000m. Others are triple jump, short put, 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

The hottest among the events in the Solid Works Limited sponsored AFN Golden League has been the 100m, 400m and 4x100m relays, which had so far kept fans on their toes at previous meetings.

Athletes have tagged the 4th leg ‘very important’ for reasons bordering on the qualification for invitation to camp for the league final, the AAC Super grand prix in Warri and the National trials in Calabar in June.

To this end, athletes are expected to approach the competition in Ilorin with the highest concentration as adverse weather conditions at previous events dimmed their efforts especially in Port Harcourt where some of them were unable to compete owing to torrential rain.

Ilorin fans would witness a thrilling race hoping that Peace Ukoh (11.25secs) in 100m women and Patience Okon (51.96secs) 400m women would reenact their respective form at Ilorin. This is not leaving out Kemi Adekoya in 400mh women.

Adekoya, it would be recalled beat celebrated Bukola Abogunloko in 400m in Port Harcourt a fortnight ago.

Also, Isah Salihu of the Nigeria Custom Services, who has been running well in quarter-mile this season is expected to meet tougher challenges from felloe compatriots Goddey James and Abiola Onakoya.

Meanwhile, AFN has emphasised that athletes winning cash prizes by placing first position in each event does not guarantee invitation to camp, but meeting the standards set for each event.

However, most athletes in the sprint events were lucky to achieve the standard in Benin last weekend with majority still hoping to have a go at it this weekend in Ilorin.

Porbeni, who is the coordinator of coaches in the AFN camp in Port Harcourt told The Guardian that he was looking forward to a better performance by the athletes in Ilorin tomorrow. He praised the AFN leadership for the good work done so far.