NWF Congratulates Yakmut
The board of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) has described the recent appointment of Alhassan Yakmut as Director General (DG) National Sports Commission (NSC) as a step in the right direction, even as it congratulated him on his new role.
The weightlifting board which met in Abuja midweek described Yakmut’s appointment as putting a round peg in a round hole.
Vice President of the board, Alhaji Yaya Mohammed, in a statement noted that Yakmut is a professional who would definitely take Nigerian sports to an enviable height.
“We are happy that a renowned professional and technocrat has been given the NSC DG job. He (Yakmut) will definitely take our sports to the next level,” Mohammed stated.
The NWF bigwig charged Yakmut to ensure that other sports, outside football get adequate attention, especially now that the country is preparing for the Congo 2015 All Africa Games as well as the Rio 2016 Olympics.
“The bane of our sports has been the over reliance on football. We hope the new NSC boss will change this trend and pay attention to other sports. This is the only way we can do well at the All Africa Games and Rio 2016 Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Lawrence Iquaibom, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), yesterday said the Federation would begin open trials in July ahead of the 2015 All-Africa Games (AAG).
Iquaibom told NAN in Abuja that the trials scheduled for Ibadan would help identify good players to represent the country at the AAG.
``Since the National Sports Commission (NSC) was yet to call for camping ahead of the AAG, we (Federation) decided to hold the trials.
``The essence of the trials is for us to get the best weightlifters ahead of the AAG.
``So, by the time we begin the camping proper, we would already have players who will be going into camp,’’ Iquaibom said.
He also said the federation had started sending letters to states to invite their players for the trials, adding that the Federation was yet to conclude preparations for the trials.