Aliu said in an interview in Lagos that the athletes should see the competition as a stepping stone to greater achievements.
“They should go all out and put in their best shot and whatever they can achieve at the competition will certainly spur them to greater heights.
“So, I will implore them, especially the new ones, to see the competition as a stepping stone to greater things,” he said.
Aliu, also a 100m gold medallist at the 1994 World Junior Championships in Portugal, urged the athletes to believe in themselves, saying that fear was one issue they should not nurse.
“I know that there are some of them that have attended such competitions and will be familiar with the crowd.
“For those participating for the first time, they should not feel intimidated by anyone; they should be focused,” he urged them.
atleast 34 athletes and eight officials are presently at the Shagamu camp, ahead of the African Junior Championships scheduled for March 3 to March 7 in Addis Ababa. (NAN)