The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chika Chukwumerije

  • 270 competitors in Abuja for taekwondo tournament

    No fewer than 270 competitors have arrived in Abuja for the 3rd Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) taekwondo tournament scheduled to begin on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competitors are drawn from eight countries, seven universities and 10 clubs.

    Others are from the armed forces and paramilitary bodies; the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police, Immigration and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.

    Chika Chukwumerije, founder of CCSF told NAN in Abuja that 24 states and eight countries were on ground for the event scheduled to hold from Oct. 24 to Oct. 25.

    The countries are Ghana, Niger Republic, Mali, Togo, Cameroun, Senegal, Gabon and Congo.

    Chukwumerije also said that Cho club of Niger Republic and Team Accra Poly of Ghana, have also arrived in Abuja, for the tournament.

    “About N2.4million prize will be carted away by the winners at the tournament.

    “Six World Taekwondo Federation Referees from Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Niger Republic, Mali and Senegal will participate in the tournament.

    “Dream Home Healthcare Foundation Service will conduct free HIV counseling and testing for 200 persons during the two-day event,’’ he added.

  • Chukwumerije rates ongoing National Youth Games high

    Chukwumerije rates ongoing National Youth Games high

    Chika Chukwumerije, a member of the board of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), on Wednesday said the ongoing maiden National Youth Games (NYG) in Abuja was a success story.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Games which began on December 6 will end on Sunday. Chukwumerije told NAN in Abuja that the NYG was a “fantastic idea which must be encouraged and sustained.

    “In a country of about 160 million people with a greater percentage of them under 30 years, I think it is a good idea to focus on the talents in youths.”

    Chukwumerije, a 2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medalist, said there was a remarkable improvement in the organisation of and participation in the competition.

    “What I see here, especially in taekwondo, is tremendous. There is a rapid expansion in the sport as over 28 states registered for it, which is much more than what we have had over the years,’’ he said.

    Chukwumerije, also a member of the technical committee of the NYG, said the committee had been able to fish out some talents from the Games so far.

    “We have designated personnel to identify talents. I can tell you that they have been doing a great job, as we have identified a very good number,’’ he said.

    The number one ranked taekwondoist in Nigeria said the coaching department of the taekwondo federation had a lot to do in the development of the identified young athletes.

    “Our coaches need to learn the rudiments of developing young raw talents such as these, from zero to heroes. The National Sports Commission (NSC) is making arrangements to bring in a foreigner soon to teach our coaches how to bring the best out of these discovered talents,’’ Chukwumerije said.

    He also noted that some of the referees in the federation were good, while some were not.

    “There is a need for the strengthening of the department,’’ the Beijing Olympic medalist said.

    He, however, acknowledged that taekwondo had achieved its overall goal at the NYG.