ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Guards Brigade, comprising of the elite force of the Nigerian Army dedicated for the body protection of the President and other important dignitaries, has introduced sporting activities into the fitness regime of their officers and personnel.
This was the underlying aim of the Brigade of Guards Sports Week 2015, where the five battalions of the elite force competed in different sporting events including basketball, volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Squash, Handball, and Thug of War.
The Acting Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Brig-Gen. Ibe Nicholas, stated this at weekend during end of the sporting event in Aguiyi Ironsi Sporting Complex, Abuja.
Ibe, who was the special guest of honour, said “that Guards Brigade- the special and foremost brigade- sporting activities is part of regimentation in the Nigerian which noted has been lacking for sometime now.
“This is also part of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff to ensure and maintain fitness. Sporting activities and exercise is part of the military fitness regime. Its all about keeping fit. In those days, its the military that supply sportsmen and women that represent Nigeria in both national and international sporting events,” he noted.
Also speaking, the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Brig-Gen. Musa Yusuf, said that the sports week was “a training directive that has been approved by the Army Headquarters.
According to Yusuf, sports in the military was to ensure that our soldiers are physically and mentally fit to achieve our tasks.
“This is one of the avenue we chose sportsmen and women for the military for those that will represent the Brigade and the Army. As you know there are a lot of personnel of the military that have represented the nation at sporting events in the past,” he said.
He also said that “the competition is aimed at discovering potential sports men and women for the brigade and the NA and as well as maintaining the physical fitness of the troops”.
Yusuf listed the various sporting competitions for the week-long even to include basketball, volleyball, Lawn Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Squash, Handball, and Thug of War.
Meanwhile, five battalions that make up Brigade of Guards, which competed at the sports week are: 176 Special Force Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada; 7 Guards Battalion, Lungi; 102 Guards Battalion, Suleija; 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi and finally Guards Brigade Garrison, Mambilla Barracks.
At the end of the event, Guards Brigade Garrison emerged the overall winners with three gold, three silver and one bronze; the second position went to the 7 Guards Battalion with two golds, four Silver and a bronze, and third position went to the 177 Guards Battalion with two gold and four bronze.