9th May, 2012
In a bid to improve the standard of karate in Nigeria, the Karate Federation of Nigeria, KFN, plans to expose Nigerian karatekas to international tournaments before the end of this year.
In a chat with P.M.Sports, KFN Secretary General, Clement Iyaluegbeghe, revealed that the federation will use the tournaments to give the karatekas the necessary exposure to the sport.
According to Iyaluegbeghe, the karatekers are expected to feature at the West Africa Zone 3 Karate championship, African Karate championship and the World Karate championship.
“It is good for our karatekers to attend some tournaments to enable them compete with their counterparts in other countries of the world. We believe this will give them the necessary exposure on the sport,” said Iyaluegbeghe.
The KFN scribe said that Nigerian karatekas have not competed at the World Karate Championship for a long time due to some hurdles.
“The truth is that Nigeria has not participated at the World karate championship for a long time. We hope to break that jinx this year by making sure that Nigerian karatekas compete at the tourney,” concluded Iyaluegbeghe.
Meanwhile, Iyaluegbeghe revealed that all hands are on deck for the staging of the National Technical Course For Referees and Coaches billed to hold in the next quarter of 2012.
The KFN scribe said that the course will keep the officials abreast of the changes in karate, adding that the move will make a positive impact on the sport in the country.
“There are some changes in the rules of the sport, which every official needs to know. We want to make sure that the referees and coaches attend the course so that the sport can develop in Nigeria.
“We also want to spread these new rules to the karatekas by enlightening the coaches and referees. This will place Nigerian karatekas on the same level with their counterparts in other countries of the world,” concluded Iyaluegbeghe.
—Anthonia Ohiero