The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) recently organized a National Referee course for referees and fresher referees, which took place at police college gymnasium hall, Ikeja, Lagos, with over 30 participants from Benue, Kebbi, FCT Abuja, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kaduna, Delta and Ogun State in attendance.
Conscious of the fact that the sport became an Olympic sport in 1988 Olympic games in South Korea, where Nigeria produced two medalists in the tourney, and made the National sport at Nigeria in 1975.
From the course, participators emolument lot of knowledge and practice with the latest competition rules, learn how to assemble and use the latest technological gadgets for Taekwondo and also complete a course in competition management techniques. Examinations hold for the participants in written and practical at the end of the course.
Speaking at the training, NTF president Mr George Ashiru said “The referee plays an important role in the tactics of things when it comes to winning international badges, and Nigeria simply does not have enough international referees on the global stage.”
The Federation decided at the prelude of the year to organize a series of national referee seminar that would help systematizes our local referees and brings them up to speed with the current technological equipment and competition rules.
“The peculiarity of referees in Nigeria is vibrant now we have the international referee that refereed in the international tournament”
The federation president explicates the challenges facing the sport in Nigeria as one of the obstacle that affect each and everyone, which is capital.
“We have plans, dreams and other things to achieve, but no resources to match it”
The NTF president at the seminar urges individuals, company and organization to come support sport and help the youth to demonstrate their talent and abilities.
Recently, the IG has show support to the Nigeria taekwondo federation with the national tournament and also the Korean Embassy render it support to the NTF yearly.
Margret Elizabeth Binga, NTF vice president and the chairman of the referee department added her quotas on the benefit of the national taekwondo referee course which she is also a vital part in by given the both the refreshes and the fresher’s referees lectures.
She lectured on how to read sign form the athlete, also to know how to give point, panelize any athlete that make any illegal move during the fight.
”The national referee seminar will help set-up our referees and brings them up to frenetic pace with the current technological equipment and competition rules and upgrade our international referees with the new rules,” Binga added.
She also urged the Federal Government to support Nigeria taekwondo for the betterment of the sport and make Nigerian referees among the top referees in the world.
“If the Americans, France and Germany are doing well, it is because their government is there to give them full support that is just it, if the Nigerian government can put in more support to the sport, Nigeria will be rubbing shoulder with the Americans and the top country in world.”
Mr. Michael Ugboko who is a member of the referee department (NTF) explicate that insufficient capital has been an obstacle to referees most especially the international referees.
“The Nigeria international referees needs to trip out of the country for seminars, for refreshers course to update themselves, but not all can afford it due to lack of fund.”
Mr. Oluigbo Nelson, a participant from described the course as great opportunity for him and other participants and encouraged the government to give support as they do to other sport.
“I has been to seminars outside the country and I could say these is the most interesting, we have three masters who have been to many international tourney around the world”
“Even you did not know anything about taekwondo before if you come out in this place you will be very perfect”
“We believe if government can invest in taekwondo and make people aware of it, most of our cohort from other country their government as programme for them but here we care for ourselves while other countries are sponsor by government”
The governments should immigrate this kind of programme to make it extensive for better result, so the referee and the coaches will in standard with other top countries in the world.
Shitu Alaka
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