Sports

Taekwondo federation kick-starts training for 2019 African Games

Published

8 years ago

February 12, 2018

As part of its early preparations for the 2019 African Games, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has kick-started its series of planned National Camping exercises, with the first edition currently holding at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria National Daily gathered.

Invited to the ten-day national camp training exercise are the top four nationally ranked athletes in each of the sixteen weight categories, including 2017 athletes of the years – -Madi’s AbdulMujeeb Sanusi [Male -54kg], Kebbi’s Charles Okon [Male -58kg] and FUTO’s Elizabeth Anyanacho [Female -67kg] amongst others. Elite athletes like African medalists, Chinazum Nwosu [Female -53kg] and Sunday Onofe [Male -87kg] also earned call ups to camp.

Also invited to the camp in a coaching capacity are recent performing coaches, including Mr John Victor, NSCDC Head Taekwondo Coach; Mr Jamilu Mohammed, Kano State Assistant Head Coach; Mr Anthony Mohammed, Federal University of Technology Akure Head Coach; Barrister Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, Q-Madi Taekwondo Club Head Coach; and Mr James Akor, Benue State University Head Coach National Daily learnt.

According to the Technical Director of the Federation, 3-time Olympian Chika Chukwumerije,

“There is a new generation of athletes with no international experience so our All African

Games preparations has to begin early to ensure we add experience to the talented and passionate new generation.

“This is why the Federation decided to float a national training camp in every quarter of the year. The primary purpose of the national training camp is to expose the new crop of national athletes to the latest training methodologies, competition techniques, tactics and latest World Taekwondo rules National Daily gathered.

“The other important reason is for the technical crew to start making an in-depth and up-front assessment of the national athletes and coaches, so that the technical crew can make a more informed decision during final selections in the future.”

Ahmadu Bello University has provided the facilities and other support logistics for the NTF camping exercise.

With the African Taekwondo Championships just a month away in Morocco, the Taekwondo Federation will have the first international opportunity to continue their planned exposure of a new generation of taekwondo athletes.