NORTH WEST TAEKWANDO

The 85 athletes drawn from the North West zone of the country that featured in the three-day taekwondo training organized by Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) have been yearning for more of such exercise in the region.
  The 85 participants were drawn from Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara took part in the CCSF “Inspire the Zones [North West]” programme held at the Kebbi State Taekwondo Dojang, in Birnin Kebbi on March 24 to 26.
  Among the objectives of the programme, hosted and sponsored by the Kebbi State Taekwondo Chairman and a Board Member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Abdullahi Saidu, was to inspire and empower athletes and coaches in the region through a practical education in specific training and coaching techniques, tactics and methodologies.
  The intensive 3-day program involved referee training for athletes, physical training, taekwondo forms basics, competitive training and technical-tactical training. There was also a taekwondo-specific coaching seminar for coaches from Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
  It was attended by the Kebbi State Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Director of Sports, Four Board Members of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, 76 athletes and 9 coaches from Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamafara and Niger State.
  Resource persons for the programme included 3-time Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije; International Certified Coach and 2-time National Champion, Sani Lawal; and Commonwealth Champion, Jamilu Mohammed.
  For Kebbi-state athlete, 21-old-year Micah Peters, the program was very educative. “We really enjoyed the program because we were exposed to the competition rules and regulations, what we are supposed to do or not do in the ring. We hope that this kind of program can be done regularly because we benefited so much from it”
  For Yakubu Danbauchi, one of the participants in the coaching program. “The program was excellent. We have been organizing workshops but this is the best so far. We were exposed to equipment and training program we did not know existed”
  The Permanent-Secretary of Kebbi State Government, Garba Hussaini Mungadi, was thrilled with the exercise, and pledged that Taekwondo will be one of the important sports to be supported by the state government. “The attendance was very impressive and I was particularly happy about this. The program was well celebrated and accepted by all, and we will support the sport.”
  For the Kebbi State Director of Sports, Usman Ladan, the program would help develop champions.
  “It was a really good program that was interesting and commendable. The caliber of resources person was high and every participant is going home happy. Hopefully, this will be a turning point for Taekwondo, not only in Kebbi State, but in the region.”
  For African Champion, Jamilu Mohammed who was a resource person for the event, it was an opportunity to give back to the taekwondo sporting community. “I was very happy to come here and share my wealth of knowledge and experience with the upcoming players. The kind of technical training they received will go a long way in producing quality national players a couple of years from now”
  For NTF Board Member representing North East, “The program had a unique impact on my zone and I am sure that the athletes in this zone similarly went home with a lot of knowledge about taekwondo”
Chairman of Kebbi State Taekwondo and Program Host, Abdullahi Saidu was equally pleased with the program. The 3-days of rigorous training for fitness, referee training and competitive training was a success. As most of the participants are newbies, the knowledge went a long way enhancing capacity building for coaches and athletes on the modern-day methodology and techniques. Overall, it was a success.”
  He promised more competitive events and workshops for the region
  “It is not enough to have one workshop. We will organize more programs like this to sustain the development in the region”
  Three-time Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije, was full of commendation for the training facility. “It is amazing that one person built the training dojang and equipped most of the players from the state. Now the athletes can train all day and all year. If many more individuals put in this kind of investment across different state in Nigeria, the sport will not lack quality continuity”