The 5th Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) Taekwondo Training Workshop kicks off today in Abuja.
40 U-20 athletes drawn from schools and clubs across the country are expected to converge in Abuja for the three-day programme.
The workshop series started in 2010 and has since become a watering ground for upcoming taekwondo champions.
The exercise includes physical fitness training, tactical and technical sessions, where participants will be taught current training methods, techniques using the latest equipment.
Also, special inspirational sessions will be conducted during the programme that allows interactions between the young participants and two iconic taekwondo figures in Nigeria – 2014 Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Ms. Josephine Esuku and 3-time NUGA Gold Medalist, Alhaji Sani Lawal.
In an academic-like session, Technical Coordinator of the program, Chika Chukwumerije, who holds an MSc. In Operations and Supply Chain Management, and successfully organizes well-planned Taekwondo events, will hold an Event Management Course to expand the knowledge base and soft skills of the participants.
According to the Chief Programme Host, Tony Anafulu, who is a Board Member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation representing the North Central Zone, and joint-partner in this CCSF-driven project, “the program is specifically designed to complement the fantastic work being done by coaches all across the country in raising young athletes, by increasing the technical and tactical knowledge of participants.”
For the co-programme host, Ado Umar, also a board member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation representing North East and a part-time lecturer with University of Education Kano, the importance of the intellectual tilt of this event cannot be over-emphasized.
He noted that “with most of the participants to come from school and university settings, a critical objective of the program will be “to ingrain in young upcoming taekwondo athletes the importance of combining sports and education.”
Among the objectives of the event, Programme Coordinator, Abdul-Malik Mohammed, who is also Head Taekwondo Coach at the Korean Cultural Centre and a member of the National Coaching Crew said, “The objective is to physically, mentally and psychologically prepare young upcoming taekwondo athletes for a career in the Olympic sport of Taekwondo.”
Going further, Mr. Mohammed reiterated that during the course of the event, the adolescent participants are expected to be inspired and encouraged through the real-time interaction with national champions and mentors via a lecture series.”
Past participants of this event include 2014 Commonwealth Gold Medalists, 18-year old Isah Abubakar Adamu and 17-year old Shola Olowookere, and a few others that are gaining ground at senior national competitions.
For CEO of CCSF, Chika Chukumerije, “the most important thing is to keep engaging these young ones, and exposing them so as to develop the wonderful talents they have, and most importantly starting to treat them now like the champions we know they are.”
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