NAN-S-8
Facilities
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Jan. 9, 2017 (NAN) A Lagos-based weightlifing coach, Johnson Obeh, on Monday appealed to the Ministry of Youths and Sports to upgrade facilities at the National Stadium Gymnasium.
Obeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the provision of such international standard facilities would enable the athletes to optimise their potential in training and during competitions.
“We call on the sports ministry to as a matter of importance provide modern facilities to make our training efficient and bring our athletes abreast with modern trend in the sport,’’ Obeh said.
The coach also said that the facilities available at the national stadium were not sufficient for the athletes use.
“The pace of training usually dropped during festive periods because some athletes will skip training then.
“That is the period we have enough facilities for the athletes use.
“As you can see, a lot of athletes resumed today after the Christmas break, so we have a full house but training facilities is a major challenge.
“Even the few old ones cannot go round the athletes,’’ he said.
The coach said that provision of modern facilities and upgrade of the gymnasium would help to encourage athletes in their training and improve their individual skills.
“As the national body and states associations come up with their calendars for the year, we must also prepare to improve our skills to fit in and make remarkable impact.
“We need babbels, categories of weight, platform for training, wardrobe, music system, flat screen televisions and standard conveniences to clean up after training,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the weightlifting gymnasium, located at the National Stadium, Lagos, was being used by weightlifters, powerlifters and body builders which make the facilities there inadequate. (NAN)
MIL/DEB/PDE
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun/Peter Ejiofor)