Sports
15 TIG’s Gymnast To Feature In 2022 NSF In Asaba-Coach Asuquo
Joel Ajayi
No fewer than 15 of the Gymnasts of Tony International Gymnastics Club TIG Club would feature for various states at the upcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba.
Founder of Tony International Gymnastics Club (TIG), Anthony Asuquo, gave the hint at the just concluded 13th TIG Level System Gymnastics competition in Abuja.
Asuquo, who is Nigeria’s first certified International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) coach, has over the years nurtured thousands of children in his TIG developmental thrives that is bringing growth and development to the Games in the country and the world.
As we are preparing for Asaba, at least 15 members of TIG Club will represent their states in Asaba come 28th of November to the 10th of December 2022.
“The growth of gymnastics, we have been able to train coaches from the street and they are now professional coaches, we take our time not to teach them only gymnastics but also coaching gymnastics.
“Most of our coaches are already out of the country like now, we have a coach who is now in Australia.
“We train gymnasts from grassroots to competitive level and also most of our gymnasts have represented the country and they are in the national team.”
However, the report has it that, about 14,000 athletes from the 36 states of the federation including the FCT will compete in over 30 different sports for medals, pride and honour.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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