Ibrahim Yahuza, the assistant coach of Nigeria’s national taekwondo team, is appealing for greater financial support to aid the country’s preparations for the upcoming African Championships scheduled for next month.
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The team encountered a setback earlier this year when they were unable to participate in the World Championships held in Baku, Azerbaijan due to insufficient funds. Concerned about the team’s prospects for the continental championships in Ivory Coast in August, Yahuza emphasizes the need for additional financial assistance to ensure their participation.
Insufficient funding has already caused a delay in the commencement of the team’s training camp as there are inadequate resources to support the athletes during this crucial preparation period.
“This is a significant concern because we have a clear roadmap leading to the Paris 2024 Olympics and the African Games in Ghana. Without proper training, it becomes challenging to assess and prepare our players for these upcoming competitions,” states Yahuza as reported by confirmed sources.
Yahuza further highlights that events such as the African Championships serve as valuable platforms for exposing the players to international competition and enabling them to compete against athletes from various countries. The experience gained from participating in such tournaments contributes to the players’ growth and development.
While commending the support provided by Abdullahi Saidu-Baba, President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Yahuza calls upon others to step forward and contribute. He acknowledges the president’s significant personal financial contributions to sponsor events but emphasizes that additional support is necessary.
“The President of the Federation has been doing a tremendous amount for the federation, primarily using personal funds to sponsor events. We recently had two events in May, which were solely sponsored by the President. However, we cannot rely on his efforts alone,” Yahuza affirms.
The coach expresses hope that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as well as private sponsors, will step up and provide the support needed to promote the sport and ensure the team’s success.
The African Taekwondo Championships are set to take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on August 12 and 13, and Nigeria aims to participate at full strength with adequate financial backing.
