‘Karate Experts’ ll Help Local Stars’

Karate Federation of Nigeria, KFN, recently received some Japanese karate experts into the country for one-day training programme and demonstration.

The programme, courtesy of the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria was held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

KFN Secretary General, Clement Iyaluegbeghe, prior to the training said in a letter written to invited associations and instructors that the programme would be a unique opportunity for Nigeria’s budding karatekas to receive firsthand training in the sport.

Henry Kurumeh, a karate coach, in a chat with P.M. Sports said that the programme was the tonic that the sport needed to grow in the country.

“The programme will no doubt make a positive impact on the sport in Nigeria, considering the calibre of people that trained our karatekas. The Nigerian karate community availed themselves of the rare opportunity by partaking in the programme,” said Kurumeh.

Kurumeh also believed that the training has raised the standard of the sport in Nigeria and will ginger the performance of Nigerian karatekas whenever they go for international tourneys.

“This programme will improve the standard of the sport in Nigeria. For instance, Nigeria did not win any medal at the last All Africa Games in Maputo because the sport is still young in the country. But the situation will change for better since we have had the programme,” Kurumeh added.

Kurumeh said that the programme went on smoothly despite the heavy rainfall that threatened to mar the event.

“The training programme went on as planned although it was almost marred by heavy rainfall. That was why we did not begin the training as scheduled but had to wait for the rain to subside. The training was excellent and will surely be a programme to remember for a very long time,” said Kurumeh.

— Bimbo Ajayi