The 40 participants at this year’s Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) taekwondo workshop concluded in Abuja at the weekend believe the training exercise has enriched their knowledge of the sport.
The three-day workshop which was the fifth edition was well attended by taekwondo experts across the country including some board members of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).
From Dickson Adoga of Benue State, attending the camp has afforded him the opportunity to increase his confidence as understand the new techniques in the sport.
“The workshop is an avenue for me to train myself to become a champion because I gained a lot of experience and I learnt new techniques of taekwondo. For me I feel CCSF is an avenue to become a champion like Chika Chukwumerije, who is using his time and resources to nurture champions for the country,” Adoga said.
Also, Kehinde Olawoyin of Oyo State said the exercise has widen his knowledge on the sport as well as make to realize that he must take his education serious while competing as an athlete.
Olawoyin said: “It is an opportunity to learn things and develop on the ones you already know. First of all, I learnt how to become a team player. I learnt how to combine sports and education, and also planning an event. I feel CCSF is still the best NGO that caters for my teammates and I. Programmes like this are not easy and it takes a good heart to organize one.”
For 19 year-old University of Lagos undergraduate, Nurudeen Hassan, the training has procided him a platform to relate with other athletes across the country.
“It is a huge stepping stone for my career in taekwondo. The endurance training, poomsae and fitness training will come a long way in me. CCSF is a very good platform for athletes but I would love it to be extended to other states. I see that they are updated on taekwondo information, equipment and technology which I have never used before,” Hassan revealed.
For 13 year-old Bukola Ogunnusi, the efforts of CCSF must be supported as their programmes would surely help to unearth talents and give the right orientation for athletes.
“It is a big deal to me attending the workshop because I interacted with people from all walks of life, and I learnt a lot of taekwondo skills from national coaches and grandmasters. Aside this, a lot of things like my basic poomsae, and lot of kicks that I never knew existed were leant. I feel that CCSF is a great team and their efforts with the programme would build a lot of champions for Nigeria,” Ogunnusi said.