The Nigerian National Taekwondo team camp in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State are in a good mood as more athletes arrive for the two weeks of intense training.
The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation had invited 32 athletes and 3 officials for a two-week national camp to prepare the athletes for the international competition qualifiers.
The Nigerian Taekwondo Head Coach John Victor expressed his excitement to see some of the invited athletes already on the ground.
“I came in this evening and I’m really happy with the number of athletes already on ground. It shows the drive everyone wants to put into the camp. Some of the athletes here have not seen each other after the last National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta, so it is good they will be camped together in one building” he said.
Coach Victor also revealed how the Federation selected the athletes invited for the two weeks exercise.
“For this camp, we in the coaching crew sat and looked at the various areas we need to work with. All athletes that did well at the Sports Festival and other competitions were picked on technical grounds so as to achieve what we want ahead of the tournament. Don’t forget that funding is also a key part but we have a working president in the Federation who is making sure this camp holds” he said.
On what to expect during the two weeks of camping, Coach Victor said “We have not met since the Sports Festival, so now we have to check the athletes’ fitness, run tests and make sure they are both tactically and technically fit and well prepared for major tournaments”.
The Taekwondo camp runs from the 24th of April to the 6th of May.
Emmanuel Ukoh
