Parents Disrupt Training To Celebrate Taekwondo Coach In Lagos

Saturday June 19, 2021 will go down in the history of Bodyweapon Taekwondo Academy as another red-letter day.

On that day, parents presented a pleasant surprise to the instructor, Emmanuel Banjo who marked his birthday on Monday June 14, 2021.

The plan to throw a birthday party for the coach was hatched by the trio of Bishop Gbenupo Olu Moiett, Mr. Jerome Braih and Mrs. Adetola Oluwaseyi.

 Though other parents were later co-opted into the birthday plan, it was kept  top secret from the instructor and his students.

As planned, while the usual Saturday training was in full swing, a two man musical band and parents took the arena by storm to the astonishment of the instructor and his students.

The training came to an abrupt end and Bishop Olu Moiett took control of the situation.

He explained to the bewildered instructor and his students what the music and merry making was all about.

“On behalf of all the parents of Bodyweapon Taekwondo Academy we have come to celebrate you today Sabom Banjo. 

“We know that your birthday was Monday June 14. But we decided to celebrate  you today because of how much you have contributed to the mental and physical development of our children”.

The cleric who was a kung-fu exponent in his youthful days said the coach’s story was the story of one who came back from the dead.

Making reference to the fatal accident which the coach was involved in on September 6, 2018, Bishop Olu Moiett said it was only a man with the indomitable spirit of a martial arts practitioner that could have continued with coaching.

“With the kind of fractures you suffered in the accident, many a coach would have given up on coaching and abandoned our children.

“You spent over a year bedridden, yet you emerged to continue with what you know how to do best”.

“We’re proud of you and we are also convinced that you will lead our children to greater heights”.

The cleric then presented the coach with his photograph and a birthday cake.

In his  response, Banjo thanked the parents for their kind gesture. He promised to do more as a coach because according to him “To whom much is given, much is expected”.

Though Banjo took a few dance steps, he craved the indulgence of the parents to pray for one of his students, Miss Ayomide Esho who died in the fatal accident which left him with a slight limp.