Former Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, and former Chief of Policy and Planning, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Anthony Okanlawon Oni ( Rtd.) have made a passionate appeal to the government and corporate Nigeria to give financial backing to Nigeria Curling Federation in their efforts to popularise the sports in the country.
They made the appeal during the Federation’s Fundraising/Broomzilla Sportswear launch held at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the occasion, Elegbeleye commended the Federation for its ability to mobilise Nigerian athletes in the Diaspora, who represented the country at the last Winter World Championship in Norway where the country not only became the first African country to participate in Curling championship but also defeated France in their debut.
According to him, curling is an interesting sports which can be played by anybody not minding his or her age, gender, colour or status and as such need to be developed.
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Chairman of the occasion, Rear Admiral Anthony Oni ( Rtd) expressed happiness that the sport has been introduced in Nigeria and urged the Federation to sustain it’ s workshops, seminars and clinics even as he recommended the sport to youths with a call on government and corporate Nigeria to invest in it.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Head Coach of Nigeria, Tijani Cole, explained that though curling is played on ice but the Federation has provided dry ice where the game could be played in the country; saying that their target is to have a junior and paralympic team next year.
He stated that there is also plan to construct a $ 4 million Ice Stadium in future and to sponsor some selected youths to United States and Canada later in the year for a training programme in preparation for youth Olympics.
“We’ve gone a long way in ensuring that curling is popularised in the country. Right now, we’ve organised some workshops for youths and set up a paralympic team.
“We’ re also planning for qualifiers for World Mixed Doubles Championship in Aberdeen. Scotland from October 12-19, 2019 and many other championships and that’ s why we are appealing for government and corporate support,” he concluded.
