National President’s Cup, opportunity to prepare our athletes for future Championships – Abdullahi Saidu-Baba
EDITH AGBO
President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu-Baba has lauded the Successful completion of the 2023 National President’s Cup Open Championship staged in Abuja.
President Abdullahi expressed satisfaction with the current board of the NTF for ensuring the tournament which is also an Olympic weight classification eventually saw the light of the day, as that has been what the federation has been driving towards to achieve.
While speaking to journalists at the end of the 3-day open championship in Abuja, Alhaji Abdullahi said the federation intentionally organized the championship as a way of giving her athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills, which will in turn, prepare them for bigger and better future championships.
He noted that when they came on board, they initially started with capacity building, enlightening the athletes on the current rules and regulations of the game, as well as empowering their officials on other technics of officiating and coaching which aligns with the federation’s intentions.
“This is great, this is what the current administration of the NTF have been trying to do. You remember when we came here we started with capacity building, educating the athletes on the current rules and regulations”
“We also try to empower our athletes on the skills required to become champions, also empowering our officials on other technics of officiating and coaching and what you are seeing now is giving them the opportunity to test their skills and to also prepare them for better & future championships.”
“Don’t forget we have the all African games coming and we have the Olympic qualification, this is a tournament for Olympic weight classification, so we’re trying to look at our athletes and look at their prospects,” he said.
The President further stressed that their set objectives is to perform well in their line up of events which include the Kebbi open, the Korean Ambassador’s Cup, the all African games and the world championship which will be taking place this year in Bacu, Azerbaijan.
