In this interview with Correspondent, IDU JUDE, in Abuja, Kim Jin Beom (popularly known as Grand Master) of South Korea, who is in the country to build talents in taekwondo, as a bi-lateral exchange between Nigeria and the South Korean Embassy, outlines how not to under-develop the sport in the country…
What do you think of taekwondo in Nigeria?
Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo (left), with Beom
The truth is that Nigeria has got some talents that needed to be developed; but I’m sorry to say that the federal government and indeed the NSC (National Sports Commission) are doing just little to see that the country wins individual Olympic medals in the game.
But you are here to help develop the sport.
Yes, you are right; but things are not just what we thought and we are doing what we think are the basics. Yet there are kinds of frustrations here and there, contrary to what we thought. The way things work here is quite different and it affects our game plan generally.
May we know some other issues?
I must tell you that poor funding of athletes and organising competitions to test the abilities of those you have discovered, and also put them in shape to avoid them going back to their normal body condition, is quite disheartening. I came here and realised that no Nigerian athlete has this international rating in taekwondo except Chika Chukwumerije, whom I encouraged to go for more rated competitions to gain international rating. That is the only way to be rated and qualify for the Olympics.
So, it is disheartening to find only Chika and few others in that category, whereas we have them in abundance. This is disturbing, since these athletes sponsor themselves to these championships and buy equipment for themselves, as the game and techniques change.
We have written to them to give us opportunities to build these boys with the international best standards, but no answer has been given.
How about you; have you been given much to take care of yourself?
It is quite a pity. Maybe I’m here on bi-lateral agreement; but that does not mean that I don’t take care of myself. The little money they give me means nothing, compared to what I spend on my upkeep. And I urge them to step up little allowances, which is currently not encouraging.
You were recently in Botswana during the African Youth Games (AYG). How many medals did you win?
In taekwondo, we came back with six medals: three females and three males. All were gold medals and we contributed in making the country coming third overall, and I’m happy about it.
It is a good start for me in international competitions for the country. I just wish it continues with an increase in funding.
What do you see quite different in your country?
Oh, quite a lot. In my country, we have stages of the game in developing talents. Don’t forget that we are the founders of the game; so it has become part of us and part of our generation. Our children grow with it and I believe it shall continue because since the game has become part of the Olympics, we shall not relent.
The government budgets greatly for it because after each Olympics, we count our blessings. We attend world and regional championships: junior and senior.
People from my country, including yours, are currently members of the international body of Taekwondo.
After the AYG, what next?
Good; there is much to do. Currently, we are camping for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. But I still have some problems, because we are late starters in everything. The camping supposed to have started since two years ago, to enable the coaches participate in different competitions with the athletes and correct their mistakes ahead of the major championships like the World Championship, the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games.
But here it is not so; Nigeria waited until the time remains four months before camping the athletes. What do you think they can do, huh? Nothing! Other countries started for the Commonwealth since after the New Delhi Games in India, but Nigeria did not start.
We can only do our best, because Nigeria has the talents. However, the talents do not have international ratings, except few.
Can we win medals at the Commonwealth Games?
That depends on how effective and hardworking the athletes are. But I’m not assuring anything for the time being. We are still working and putting every necessary thing on ground to see if we can recover from the late camping. I suppose that we should have been away in the Korean Republic in an international engagement to put the athletes in shape; but here we are.
So also, the Olympics is around the corner. We should begin immediately after the Commonwealth Games to start camping the athletes at the different venues.
You are sent by your country as a Grand Master. That shows you are good.
Yes I am. I’m a member of the international body of taekwondo. As a an athlete, I have won Olympic medals and so many uncountable world and Asian championships. But now, I’m a teacher of the game. That is why my people sent me here on diplomatic mission and bi-lateral exchange to Nigeria. Again, my country wants to develop the sport in Nigeria, since the interest is quite huge here. It is part of our identity.
What is the legacy you want to leave behind?
At the grassroots, some schools are quite interested in the sport and they have contracted me in Abuja to take the students in taekwondo. I love it because it develops the mind of the child and makes them leaders of tomorrow. By so doing, they will become national athletes. So, grassroots development is quite good if the NSC will key into the programme with funding.
