The National Sports Commission (NSC) has commended the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) for organising a training programme for its athletes and coaches.
The Deputy Director, Coaching and Technical Unit of the Federation of Elite Athletes Department, Olusola Fayoyiwa who conveyed this message, stated this on Tuesday when he, along with the Director of FEAD, Mrs. Mbora Ikana visited the training center at the Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Fayoyiwa who notes that the training programme is in synergy with the mission of the Commission expressed optimism that with such regular trainings, the lifters as well as the coaches will acquire much knowledge that would enhance their performance in the sports.
“I am happy with what I saw here because this is the direction of the present leadership of the commission, how we can improve on our performance and at the same time catch them from the grassroots.
“Coming here to see young athletes performing along with the older ones shows the synergy that the Federation is planning ahead while at the same time blending the younger ones with those who have advanced.
“I can see the techniques the foreign coach is impacting on the athletes, so I am very happy. The training will enhance the performance Nigeria weightlifting athletes and Coaches no doubt,” he told NWF Media
The Deputy Director also emphasised that weightlifting sport, like others, is facing shortage of facilities and equipment adding that the Commission would look into it.
“I believe that we have in-built talents in Nigeria. We only need to work on the talents, the techniques to get to podium performance. And at the same time, we need to improve on our equipment and facilities; we don’t have the standard facilities that can push us forward.
“But the Commission will look into that in getting better equipment and more training opportunities like what we have now,” he said.
The one-week athletes and coaches training which started on Monday will end on Sunday with 30 participants made up of 22 athletes and 8 coaches.
A globally sort-after weightlifting coach, Maged Salama from Austria, who arrived Nigeria on Friday, is coordinating the training.