Judokas Threaten Showdown Over Weak Federation

Taiwo Adelu

Judokas have expressed their displeasure over the lull in Nigerian judo environment with little or nothing being done by the current board of Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF.

The athletes noted that the President of NJF, Timothy Nsirim, has not done enough to bring life into their game especially when no competition is being organised locally for most of the athletes who have been training on daily basis to keep their fitness.

Some of them who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concerned with the way the sport is being run in the country, calling on the National Sports Commission, NSC and spirited Nigerians who are pundits of judo to rescue the game from going down.

“I would blame the sports commission for allowing people who have nothing to offer to govern our sport. I don’t see a  reason some members of  this judo board will be there with nothing to show for their existence and still be allowed to continue in office. This is so bad for us,” said a male judokas at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

“Many of the board members are not qualified to be in judo federation. The president of the federation has failed us as there has not been any activity in the past eight months. I think very soon if nothing change we will organise ourselves to voice out our grievances known to the Nigerian public. The All Africa Games is coming up this year and the Olympic Games in Brazil next year, there is nothing on ground to show our readiness to go for the qualifiers of these tournaments and no local competition to keep the judokas fit, this is bad,” a female judoka said.