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Roller Sports Federation plans big for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

By Gowon Akpodonor
22 February 2017   |   3:31 am
The President of Roller Sports Federation of Nigeria (RSFN), Comrade Joseph Evah, says the federation’s target is to qualify the nation’s skaters to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

PHOTO: ufoars.com

To stage skating marathon in Lagos
The President of Roller Sports Federation of Nigeria (RSFN), Comrade Joseph Evah, says the federation’s target is to qualify the nation’s skaters to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“Our skaters have what it takes to do Nigeria proud in any international competition, and our plans is to qualify them for the next Olympics,” Evah told The Guardian at the National Stadium, Lagos at the weekend.

As part of their preparations for the challenges ahead, Evah disclosed that RSFN would stage a Skating Marathon in Lagos, the first ever in the country any moment from now.

According to him, the 42.2km skating marathon will be open to only registered skaters from across the country, adding, “this maiden Lagos Skating Marathon is aimed at popularising the sport in the country. The game of skating is set to future at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and our federation is determined to ensure Nigerian skaters compete at the Games.

“Last year, we participated in an international competition in Benin Republic and our skaters came back with five medals. We also participated in a skating competition in Cameroun, where we also won medals. It shows that Nigeria is blessed with the talents to rule the world in skating. The Skating Marathon we are holding in Lagos in a few months time is going to be a full marathon of 42.2 km. The idea is to make the sport more popular in the country. Skating could be very young in Nigeria but we have large followers,” Evah said.
He warned skaters to desist from the abuse of the sports on major roads in the country, saying: “Some individuals are using this sport to commit crime and we must stop it.”

To fast track the technical development of the sports, Evah announced that he would sponsor five coaches/technical officials for further training at the Nigeria Institute of Sports (NIS) in Lagos this year.

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Commission has declared it would seize skating shoes of any athlete found hanging on moving vehicles in Lagos and other parts of the country. This, it said, is a punishment for those who refuse to follow the rules of the game.

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