2016 Rio Olympics: Japan to provide Nigerian athletes with kits, says Gumel

The Japanese government has accepted Nigeria’s request for the kitting of Nigerian sportsmen and women that will participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, said this at the closing ceremony of the Volleyball Coaches’ Refresher Course held at the National Stadium, Abuja on Monday.

The Course was organised by the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) in conjunction with the Japanese Olympic Committee.

According to Gumel, the Japanese government has in the past supported Nigeria with kits during previous appearances at Olympic games.

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“They (Japanese government) have accepted to provide kits for our athletes that are travelling to Rio for the Olympic Games coming up in August.

“And this is not the first time; when we were going to China (2008), London (2012), I made the requests and they gave them to us at no cost.

“Now, we are going to Rio, I made the request, they are delivering the items by the grace of God sometime in May at our Embassy in Tokyo.

“From there, it will be here so that it can be distributed to our own athletes.’’

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Gumel, who is also the President of the volleyball federation, urged the participants at the refresher course to impart the knowledge they have acquired in their players.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Shuishi Mizuno, the Japanese assistant national volleyball team coach, was the course instructor.

NAN further reports that 54 coaches from clubs, states, and higher institutions, participated in the course, which began on Feb. 15.

The coaches received certificates after the course.