Lagos – The Nigeria Rowing, Sailing and Canoe Federation (NRSCF), says Nigeria has the human and material capacity to produce world-class sailing and rowing athletes.
The Technical Director of the federation, Mr Patrick Egbele, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
“The potential is great, we are looking at the age group level, we are looking at the intermediate and the senior levels.
“We have the natural and human resources in this country that can propel us.
“We have tried it before; even in the recent past we’ve trained athletes between three and six months and they have performed quite creditably at international competitions.
We trained athletes here for just about three, four month and they excelled.
“We also had four of our officials that were trained as international technical officials, which mean that we can officiate at continental and world championships; it’s a plus for us.
“And we can also, by that qualification, organise proper championships and competitions at the local level. So, it’s a plus for us and we are moving.’’
He said that the federation would not relent in its effort to enhance the development of the sports by focusing on the potential at the grassroots.
He, however, called for corporate organisations to complement government’s effort at moving the sport forward.
NAN reports that Jonathan Akinyemi and Chierika Ukugo have qualified to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics holding from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 in Rio de Janeiro. (NAN)
