Nigerian Weightlifting Coaches Want Technocrat As President Of NWF, Drum Support For Lawrence Iquaibom

Nigerian Weightlifting Coaches Association is lamenting the dwindling fortunes of the sport in the country in the past few years despite lots of potentials which the nation can boast of.

In other to arrest the situation and put things in the right pedestal, the coaches are now speaking in one voice clamouring that President of the Board of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation should henceforth be a technocrat and someone who has paid his or her dues in the game.

Chairman of Nigerian Weightlifting Coaches Association, Emeka Ajei told P.M. EXPRESS that they have resolved to sell the candidacy of Lawrence Iquaibom to all stakeholders of weightlifting in Nigeria as the election into the board draws closer.

Why Lawrence Iquaibom? The coaches chairman said the Akwa Ibom State Director of Sports has history of excellence in the game both at the local scene and on international arena.

“Iquaibom is an ex-Olympian. He had seen it all as an athlete and as an administrator who has add values to the system. We need somebody like him who will use his clouts and connections to bring sponsors so that we can be having regular competitions for our talented weightlifters. This has been the bane of the sport over the years because those we have in the helms of affairs knew nothing about how to run this game.

“This is our farmland and there is no where for us to go, hence our resolve to queue behind Lawrence Iquaibom who we have strong believe that he will turn around the fortune of weightlifting in Nigeria,” Ajei said.

The chairman said the coaches looked at the success stories being recorded in wrestling because Daniel Igali is the president, taekwondo with Chika Chukwumerije whose headship has added values to the sport.

“We are appealing to Iquaibom to cone forward to contest for president of the federation. We are also appealing to the Honourable Sports Minister, Chief Sunday Dare to see reasons with us in this crusade to reposition weightlifting in Nigeria through putting right people at the helms of affairs.

“The game has suffered a lot. Since the silver medal outing at Sydney 2000 Olympics, we can’t point to any good record coming out of weightlifting in Nigeria. We have been having terrible experience all because people who have no business managing the sport have been around with us in the board. No competitions to keep the lifters in good shape. All what they told us was that there was no fund. Will they be waiting for government to inject funds all the time?

“We have seen what Lawrence Iquaibom has been doing for sports in Akwa Ibom. He is a friend to the corporate and public sectors. He will bring his connections to help us lift the game up.

“Between now and the election, we will mobilise stakeholders from the grassroots, zones to zones so that we will all be on the same page to push the candidacy of Lawrence Iquaibom as the president of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation by the special grace of God,’ Ajei who is from Delta State, south-south Nigeria said.

According to Akwa Ibom Celebrates, “Lawrence Tom Iquaibom is one of Nigeria’s most successful sportsmen. He is, infact, a Weightlifting legend, having won Gold Medals for Nigeria in international competitions, coached the National Team and is one of few Nigerian Category One Referees licenced by the International Weightlifting Federation (ITF).

“Iquaibom represented Nigeria at both the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, registering performances that got him on the world chart of the sports. At the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, he won Gold Medals for Nigeria in the 130kg Snatch, 160kg Clean and Jerk and 290kg Overall. Before then, he had won 3 Gold Medals for Nigeria at the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi, Kenya. He won his first Medal as an eighteen year old at the National Sports Festival in Benin(1981).

“The Mkpat Enin born alumnus of Odoro Secondary School, Essien Udim attended the National Institute of Sport, Lagos where he bagged a Grade 111 and 11 Coaching Certificate in 1986 and 1989 respectively, the Hungarian Institute of Sports, Budapest for a Diploma in Weightlifting Coaching in 1993, the University of Uyo for a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and the University of Calabar for a Masters of Education degree in Sports Management.

“He started out as a Coach in 1986 but today, has risen in the service of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Council to a Director of Sports.

“As Coach, he has led the state contingent to successful participation in national and international competitions. The Nigeria Weightlifting Federation appointed him a National Coach based on this track record and he has also led the national team to successes in international competitions.

“Iquaibom is a Member of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation where he served as Member of the Technical Committee from 2005 to 2008 and Vice Chairman of the National Association of Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance, NAPHER-SD, Akwa Ibom State chapter.”