30 athletes participate in wheel chair soft ball workshop

NAN-S-3
Workshop
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Dec. 19, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 30 physically-challenged athletes participated in the maiden edition of the Nigeria Wheelchair Soft Ball (NWSB) coaching workshop which ended in Lagos on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop held at the National Stadium, Lagos, focused on the rudiments of playing the game.
Jude Uwazie, NWSB Ambassador and the sole resource person, expressed delight at the turn out of athletes at the workshop.
“Most sports are recognised in the country and some are embraced by the physically challenged but this soft ball is new in Africa as well as in Nigeria.
“Being an ambassador in Africa, I want to use this workshop to introduce our athletes to the game so that they can build their career in the sport.
“The response is impressive because this is the first edition, yet we have this number of turn-out and the participants are very happy to participate in the workshop,’ he said.
Richard Olisa, a participant and NWSB head coach, said that the workshop would guide his coaching skill.
Olisa said that the workshop would help the athletes and empower them to develop their skill in participating in national and international competitions.
“This workshop is good because it will help our physically challenged athletes with talents to build a career.
“I have learnt coaching tips and I will be happy to train athletes so that they can master the techniques of the sport and stand out among others,’’ he said.
Adeniji Michael, an athlete and participant, applauded Uwazie, for introducing the sport to the athletes through the workshop.
Michael said it required energy, strength, mobility and determination of the athletes to remain and be successful in the sport.
“Now that the sport has been introduced to us, we are happy about it and will do everything to excel and gain recognition beyond the shores of the country,” he said. (NAN)
MIL/DS/WOJ
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