The Chairman of the Enugu State Taekwondo Association, Ebere Amaraizu, has hailed the board and management of Taekwondo in the state for developing a pragmatic and functional catch-them-young programme for the sport.
Amaraizu made this known at the indoor sports complex of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Tuesday while intimating journalists on the way forward for the sport.
He said that the programme would definitely take the sport to an enviable height and also ensure that Taekwondo athletes (young minds) imbibe Taekwondo tenets to become national and international assets.
According to him, “I appreciate the efforts of the board and management of Taekwondo in the state on their continual cooperation, commitment and numerous efforts at ensuring that the game of Taekwondo meets the desired expectations.”
This expectations, he said, are in line with the 2023 Taekwondo Training Programme/Calendar for the Enugu Eagles Taekwondo Club.
Amaraizu, who is also the National Coordinator of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), also commended the coaching crew, led by Grand-master Dennis Ani, on the designed training, its execution and delivery.
He said, “The delivery pattern is helping athletes, especially budding athletes, to adapt and respond positively.
“The designed training programme for 2023 will help to build the consciousness of championship in them to turn them very soon into national assets and Olympic Games materials.
“We have reviewed the training programme for 2023 and they are worthwhile; thus, cutting across Taekwondo tenets of perseverance, modesty, indomitable spirit, integrity, modesty as well as survival skills/positive coping skills which will make them thrive for a functional community.
“We also intend to step down this training in our targeted areas and essentially having more female athletes in order to break the barriers of gender inequality in sports and in line with the sustainable development goals agenda.”
Amaraizu said that the association is elated on the level of adaptations to training and it would help for proper evaluation in terms of performance of the young athletes as well as their grading. (NAN)
