The Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation has successfully completed the collaborative taekwondo exchange programme with the Ahmadu Bello University Taekwondo team, which was held March 18 to 20, 2016 at the indoor sports gym of the ABU Zaria University Campus.
The three-day programme involved 11 CCSF Taekwondo students, mostly from FCT government secondary schools, and 15 ABU Taekwondo practitioners who are currently studying at the Ahmadu Bello University.
According to the Head Coach of the ABU Zaria Taekwondo team, two-time National Champion, Alhaji Sani Lawal, the ABU-CCSF collaborative exchange programme was a complete training package for upcoming taekwondo athletes that ranged from physical training, technical-tactical training, competitive training, basic forms training, basic referee training to a full daedo electronic segment.
For the successful university coach, who was a three-time NUGA Gold Medallist and an International Certified Coach from Kyung Hee University, South Korea, the importance of connecting the secondary schools to the university taekwondo students is be over-emphasized.
Laval said: “This CCSF vision is a masterstroke and once again highlights the valuable impact the Foundation has been having on the taekwondo community. Programmes like this not only help the sport, but encourage our sportspeople to seriously combine education and sports.”
Participants were stunned by the intensity, depth and quality of the programme.
For 20-year-old participant and ABU University taekwondo team player, Hadiza Selaboy, who is a 200 level student of International Relations and Political Science: “It was very exciting to have CCSF train with us in an amazingly electrifying atmosphere. Watching the younger players was very inspiring and our university taekwondo team is more motivated than ever.”
For 16-year-old Joy Ikpemeazu of Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, who is also preparing to start her WAEC exams in a few days: “It was a very tiring program, especially the resistance training. My whole body is sore but I am happy with what I learnt about refereeing rules and the daedo electronic system. I feel really fired-up.”
For Akpah Adakole John, who is studying for a Masters degree in sports science and is a military personnel from the Army School of Physical Training, it was a novel experience.
John said: “I enjoyed today’s training because it was a kind of new training. I have never trained like this before and I really enjoyed the training. I hope the government gives the organizer the necessary support to continue this kind of grassroots training, as it will help the development of the sport in Nigeria.”
CCSF boss and three-time Olympian, Chika Chukwumerije, was satisfied with the outcome of the programme.
Chukwumerije said: “My administrative team is happy with the programme. New friendships were formed, and ideas – both sporting and cultural – were exchanged. Athletes, on both sides of the divide are inspired and enriched. We have a few programmes like this lined up this year so we are very excited about the endless possibilities.”
The former African Champion, who bagged the 2016 Education UK Alumni Award for “Social Impact”, thanked the authorities of the Ahmadu Bello University and the FCT Secondary Education Board and pledged that the Foundation will continue working consistently as it had done since 2010 to add value to the lives of young people.
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