IKPO IGBINOBA
Lagos, indisputably the cradle of Nigerian judo is ready to reclaim her leadership position in the country.
And the place to kick-start the ambitious project is the National Open Senior Judo Championship sponsored by Oshodi Judo Foundation billed for Ibadan from 14-18 July.
A trip to the dojo of the National Institute of Sports, NIS in Lagos where the Lagos squad is being groomed provided an inkling to what to expect from the Lagos team in Ibadan.
Having missed their objective of topping the medals table at the recent 20th National Sports Festival held in Benin City, the judokas from the Centre of Excellence are leaving nothing to chance.
The training session was explosive and full of fireworks with the judokas putting in their very best to secure a place in the final list.
Technical Director of the Lagos State Judo Association, Edokpolor Ihaza who was in charge told P.M. EXPRESS that only the very best will make the team.
According to him ” We are not going to Ibadan on sightseeing. We are going to compete against teams that are hungry for laurels.
“So we are going to Ibadan with the very best”.
Ihaza, a former national coach said he was encouraged by the response of the judokas to training.
“Our judokas have been responding well to the training. However, we have not perfected the team. That would be achieved in a few days time”, he enthused.
Ably assisted by the chief coach in the Lagos State Sports Commission, Janet Omorodion and coach Gbenga Adekaunsi, Ihaza took the judokas through energy sapping for over two hours.
The technical director said he was optimistic his team would make a big presence in Ibadan because everyone involved is hungry and desperate for success.
He explained “From the chairman of the Lagos State Judo Association, Mr. Sheriff Hammed to the coaches and the judokas, everyone is hungry for success. And we all are working as a team.
With this harmony that we enjoy, the sky is the limit for us in Ibadan”.
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