Participants at the Level 2 Coaching Course in Abuja have canvassed regular weightlifting coaching courses to keep them abreast of modern trends in the sport.
Over 50 coaches participated at the 5 day training course organised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in partnership with the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).
A cross section of the coaches described the course as an eye opener to podium success in weightlifting in future events.
One of the participants, Omogbai Tina from Lagos State, is delighted to be part of the programme and vowed to justify his presence in Abuja for the course.
“My take home is for me to go back home and try to implement what I have learnt from the course and impact the knowledge, build them with right techniques and to also handle the youth athletes with a lot of patience and to support and guide them.”
Another coach from Kaduna state, Usman Shehu expressed his appreciate to the facilitators of the course which he describes as enrichment “the NWF, NOC, IWF have done so much to impact weightlifting knowledge on us and it left for us to reciprocate by gromming raw talents to be world beaters in weightlifting.”
For Janeth Ali from the Federal Capital Territory, the course was apt. “This course came at a time when the breeze of the Olympics is blowing heavily. I have acquired new knowledge, how to manage them and train and manage them. Even things I have not learnt before I have learnt them and I believe our athletes will now start reaping the dividend of the course.”
Course instructor, Prof. Pierce Kyle, director of United States of America Weightlifting and High Performance Centre,noted that with the talents he had seen Nigeria would soon be a dominant force at the world stage in the sport.
“Am happy your coaches are good, ready to learn and they have demonstrated great zeal in learning. I have confidence in the coaches transmitting the knowledge acquired here to their athletes when they get back.”
A special guest at the closing of the course, President of the Nigeria volleyball Federation Engr. Musa Nimrod charged the athletes to go back home and produce more champions in the sport.
“These coaches will be going home to teach others and that’s the way to go if we are to rule the world in any sport. Training of athletes without a season is very important. We need to intensify this so that we can correct our normal practice of fire service approach in any Olympic year.”
The Vice President, Weightlifting Federation of Africa Sir. Chimdi Ejiogu believes the coaches have been better equipped to train weightlifters at the grassroots.
“The weightlifting family is pleased with all the participants, the facilitator and the NOC members for their contributions and support in this epoch making event”
Maria Wophill, moderator for Africa on women matters in Sports, praised the doggedness of Nigeria Women in spearheading the nation’s medal prospects and called on the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation to give more women opportunity in weightlifting.
“challenged women to embrace weightlifting. Women are presently giving their best to the nation. Am happy that among the athletes Nigeria will be presenting in Paris, ninety five percent are women”
Declaring the event closed, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Habu Gumel, expressed appreciation to Prof. Kyle for giving his wealth of experience in the 5 day course and urged the coaches to make effective use of the event to train their athletes for the task ahead.
“We are committed in the Olympic Solidarity and as such this kind of training will continue not only in weightlifting but other federations affiliated to the NOC”
According to Gumel, “now that you’ve received this training go back home and transfer the knowledge learnt here to your athletes,so that we can produce podium athletes in future continental and international sporting competitions.”
The coaches that attended the coaching course were drawn from the 36 States of the country and FCT.
