Ibrahim Yahuza, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Referee, has called for follow up programmes, under the supervision of current coaches, for outstanding athletes identified at the 19th National Sports Festival.
Yahuza told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the identified athletes performed creditably and need trendy coaches to train them in line with the current competition rules of the sport.
“I carefully observed performances of athletes in the festival and I was impressed with skills exhibited by most athletes, and I believe that talents were equally identified by federation.
“The follow up programme to bring these potential to limelight is very fundamental and requires supervision of competent technical officials that regularly update their coaching skill according to the international standard.
“The athletes will be more encouraged if the federation can provide such needed platform which is required to develop their careers and in return be knowledgeable on competition rules,” he said.
The Kano-based practitioner said that there was need for the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) to consider the recommendations in its programme of activities in 2019, make it a priority and ensure it was realised.
He said that the federation must take the right step in the right direction and expose athletes to competitions as part of preparation for 2019 series of championships.
The referee listed some international events billed for 2019 as World Cadet Taekwondo Championships, Moscow World Taekwondo Championships, World Cadet Grand-Pix Championships.
“The NTF must be up and doing in exposure activities and close that gap that have kept our athletes behind which their peers are using against them in various tournaments.
“The fighting standard is equally applied in all competition but the difference between our athletes and foreigner peers is their high level of exposure and regular participation in tournaments,” Yahuza added.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to provided necessary support needed for the federation to prepare and ensure the participation of its athletes in the tournaments.
NAN reports that 460 taekwondo athletes feature in Kyorugi and Poomsae events at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development organised 19th NSF held in Abuja from Dec. 6 to Dec.16.
