Sports
94 Athletes, 21 to represents Nigeria 2022 Commonwealth at Birmingham 2022
…As closed Camps begins in FCT, Lagos and Bayelsa
Joel Ajayi
Total number of 94 Athletes and 21 technical personnel in 9 sports federations will be representing the most populous Black race at the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Scotland.
Giving an update on the preparation of team Nigeria for the world fiesta, the Director Federation and Elite Department Dr Simon Ebojaiye stated this at the press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, Nigeria will be participating in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in 9 sports.
“The sports federations include: Athletics with 35 athletes, 5 coaches; Boxing 9 athletes, 2 coaches; Judo 4 athletes, 1 coaches; Para Athletics 5 athletes, coaches 2; Para Table Tennis 7 athletes, 2 coaches
“Others includes, Para powerlifting 8 athletes, 2 coaches; Table Tennis 8 athletes, 2 coaches; Weightlifting 9 coaches, 2 coaches and Wrestling 11 athletes, 3 coaches.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will present 94 Athletes and 21 Accompany Technical Personnel that have qualified through several qualification competitions overseas to carry the banner of our Nation to the Games.”
Speaking on the closed camping for athletes, he revealed that, athletes are now in three different camping across the country.
“Abuja FC will house, 4 federations which include, Athletics, Boxing. Para Athletics and Weightlifting while Lagos State will house 3 federations which are Para Table Tennis, Para Powerlifting. Table Tennis and Judo.
“While Wrestlers will be camping in Yenagoa Bayelsa State.
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“These Camps will run up until Team Nigeria’s staggered departures to the Games in Birmingham beginning from 22nd July, 2022.”
However, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare has urged the athletes to concentrate in their training and preparations and avoid the use of performance enhancing substances and put up a high level of discipline in order to project a positive image of Nigeria at the Games.
Sports
Akinwunmi Hails Girls, Praises Tinubu Sports Reforms
The former First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation and former Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association spoke in Lagos moments after the Flamingos beat Japan in the final to become the first African country ever to lift the trophy.
Akinwunmi also gave credit to government.
He hailed the reforms of the National Sports Commission, backed by the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This victory did not happen by chance,” he said.
“President Tinubu gave sports a clear mandate. Sports is no longer just leisure. It is a national asset. It is a tool for youth empowerment.”
“For years we cried that grassroots football had no money. Today, the NSC has brought structure, accountability and long-term planning.”
For Akinwunmi, it was not just a win. It was the fulfilment of a vision he has carried for over a decade.
“This is not just a trophy. This is history,” Akinwunmi said.
“This is Africa’s first. This is Nigeria showing the world that our girls can be the best in the world.”
“You have proved that ‘Let The Children Play’ was not a slogan. It was a vision that incorporated the development of the girl child and culminated in Lagos State producing successive Falcons’ captains under his watch. Today, that vision is a World Cup.”
Akinwunmi knows what this victory means.
While many administrators focused only on the Super Eagles, he fought for youth and girls football.
He created “Let The Children Play”. He pushed for the NFF/Zenith U15 Women Competition. He pushed for scouting of girls from age 13.
As Chairman of the NFF Youth Development Committee, he wrote the Youth Development Policy. His rule was simple: scout from 13, move them from U13 to U15 to U17 to U20. No win-at-all-cost. Build players for the future.
“Give a girl a ball, give her education, give her a chance,” he used to say. “She will give you a World Cup.”
On Saturday, the girls gave Nigeria a World Cup.
He praised the leadership of the National Sports Commission NSC under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko and Hon. Bukola Olopade, according to him, the difference was clear on the pitch.
This time, the Flamingos had proper camping. They had friendly matches. They had sports science. Their allowances were paid.
“When you treat athletes with dignity, they will give their all on the pitch for Nigeria.”
He said the reforms match his own “Football First” blueprint, which he wrote while at the NFF.
“Focus on grassroots football, focus on youth development. Focus on the leagues, focus on proper organisation, focus on the economy of football. Trophies will follow. Today, the trophy has followed.”
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