Nigeria Triathlon Union Plans Series Of Activities To End 2019

Between 19th and 20th November, a Nigeria Triathlon Union (NTU) Community Course will be held for game masters/mistress and other stakeholders in the sport.

The course will take place inside the boardroom of Nigeria Olympic Committee at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Shortlisted 25-30 persons from the well over 169 entries are expected to take part in the Community Course designed for sports teachers in Nigerian schools, out of which a quarter of the entries will be given to women, while athletes drawn from close by schools in Surulere will take part in the demonstration exercise during the course.

The Resource Person for this Community Course is Coach Bashir Mohammed, the Deputy Technical Director of the NTU, who has been to several International courses and competitions on behalf of the Union. Coach Bashir will be supported by the National Chief Coach, Mr. Goodie Amaefula while Coaches Dupe, Loya and Pepelate will be his assistants. Efforts are being made to relocate the venue to a much bigger location nearby to accommodate these candidates, having sought and gotten the buy-in of the Supervisor on the large number entries. However, another Community Course will be held before the end of the first quarter of the year 2020 in spreading the sports and knowledge of the new rules/regulations as well as sourcing of young and new Triathletes.

An International Triathlon Union (ITU) supported course is the other Community Course that will hold between 4th and 7th December, 2019 in conjunction with the Nigerian Triathlon Union (NTU). This particular Course is for candidates that participated in the Level 1 IOC/ITU Solidarity Coaches Course held recently as Upgrade capacity for new ITU rules/regulations.

The Resource Person for this course is the highly experienced Mr. Christie Ackerman Retief Freysen from South Africa. He will be assisted by Nigerian coaches, Coach Bashir Mohammed Deputy Technical Director NTU, as well as the National Chief Coach, Mr Goodie Amaefula. The participants are expected across Nigeria are those already shortlisted from last IOC/ITU Solidarity Coaching Course held in this same Boardroom of the NOC inside the National Stadium, Surulere. It featured a quarter of women candidates.

The ITU is supporting this Community Course. The course is being planned to deepen Triathlon in Nigeria.

The last in the series is the very important 2nd National Cadbury Bournvita Duathlon Championships taking place inside the National Stadium Complex Main Bowl for running, while the biking takes place at adjoining roads round outside the Main Bowl as it was done for 1st edition held not long back. Entries are expected from all the schools/states/armed forces who have clubs with numerous athletes for this sport to compete for honours and attractive prize monies available.

Meanwhile, the NTU is planning ‘A Special Dinner’ to be tagged ‘Sponsors/Media Parley’. This is to be held during the first quarter of the year 2020 to say ‘Thank You’ and express earned appreciation and gratitude for their support over the years to our sponsors – Old, New and In-coming. Awards ceremony will also be part of this Dinner to honour deserving individuals/corporate bodies who have been identifying with this noble Olympic Sport – Triathlon!

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, President, Nigeria Triathlon Union