26th November, 2012
Although a new sport in Nigeria, Head Coach of the Golden Martial Art Academy, Henry Kurumeh, has predicted that karate will be a major sport in the country in the near future.
In a chat with P.M.News, Kurumeh said a time will come when karate will win laurels for the country at international tournaments.
“The time will come when karate will be a sport in which Nigeria will have a comparative advantage at the Olympics and the All Africa Games. The reason is that Nigerians are already looking beyond football, which is giving them heartache,” said Kurumeh.
“I have the conviction that a time will come when karate will be the most popular sport in Nigeria. I foresee a situation where karate will enjoy more followership than football in this country, the trainer opined”
The coach added that the reason the sport has not gained much popularity in the country is because it is yet to be integrated into the Olympic Games.
“One of the challenges to the speedy growth of karate in Nigeria is because the sport has not become an Olympic sport. That is why Nigerian karatekas did not feature at the 2012 Olympics in London.
“But I hope the situation changes soon, and the sport will be a medal sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Jainero. The sport was a demonstration sport at the London Games, and I hope that we have been able to convince the International Olympic Commission, IOC, that karate is a safe sport,” concluded Kurumeh.
—BIMBO AJAYI