13th July, 2012
Top Nigerian sports coaches in the service of Adopt-A-Talent Sports Programme will begin a three day screening exercise for the athletes under this programme from today till Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper’s trainer, ex-international Joe Erico, legendary boxing coach, Joe Erico, ace table tennis coach, Wole Orukotan, former national coach, US based Suraju Onatuga, Gymnastic expert, Umoh Patrick, John Olusina (Karate) and Ihaza Edokpolor (Judo), Uruemu Adu (athletics) and others will be out to train new exceptional athletes in the new additional sports approved by the Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. These sports are Gymnastics, Swimming, Karate and Judo.
According to the Management Committee of the Programme headed by Prince Wale Oladunjoye, the three day training exercise will start from 8a.m each day, while the athletes will be camped at the Myoung Barracks, Yaba, Lagos.
The management will also use the period of the training exercise to unveil to the public 39 of the already 109 inaugurated athletes, who have been attached to sponsors from the existing six sports-Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Athletics, Boxing and Table Tennis.
The exercise will start today with medical examination of all the athletes before physical fitness training.
Speaking on the qualities of what the athletes will get from the coaches, Prince Oladunjoye, who is also the Principal Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola said: “We’re having these coaches because of their proven track records, experience, exposure and dedication to their job. This is also to show that we attached a good premium to what the athletes will get from the programme at the end of the day.”