As Aguma National Open Championship commences
The Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria (KFN) has expressed its intention to groom talents from the ongoing Aguma National Open Championship to stardom.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, Emmanuel Peters, a board member of the federation, said that the competition was mainly geared towards the discovery of talents from the grassroots in order to popularise the sport.
The championship, which commenced on June 12 at the Akper Aku Stadium, Makurdi in Benue State, is expected to come to an end on June 17 .
“The federation intends to target athletes in the different weight categories that will be mentored to a competitive level, where they could represent the country in international competitions,” Peters said.
The board member who initiated the competition said it will familiarise the athletes with the rudiments of the sport and popularise the sport enough to attract sponsors.
He also said that the competition was open to all categories of competitors, to enable them to showcase their innate talent in the sport.
“It’s open, and representatives from the 34 weight categories are expected to feature in the competition,” he said.
Peters stated that the annual event, which is in its third edition, had produced athletes who had represented their states at the National Sports Festival and other continental tournaments.
He noted that the programme would also include officiating course for coaches and referees, to acquaint technical officials with the current trends in the sport.
“As instructors of the athletes, they should have a full knowledge of the latest rules so that they will be able to train them accordingly,” he said.
Peters appealed to private and public sectors to help contribute to the development of the sport in the country by way of funds, gift items, kits and scholarship for athletes.
