Lagos, Ogun, others for judo, Sambo clinic in Osun

To update athletes’ knowledge ahead of major tournaments, UK-based King Timmy Judo, and Sambo Sports Foundation, in collaboration with Osun State Sports Council will hold a judo and sambo clinic for South-West states from August 16 to 18, at Oyan Town Hall, in Osun State. Expected to participate in the clinic are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states.
 

To encourage more participation, Okeniyi said: “We decided to organise this event to popularise the sport and also assist the southwest states with training equipment, which I have been doing for years. Part of the plans is to build one of the best training facilities in Nigeria and in Osun, which is my state.
 
Top dignitaries, including the Senior Special Assistant on Sports, Culture, and Tourism to Osun State Governor,  Shefiu Babatunde; Chairman, Osun State House of Assembly on Sports, Abiola Awoyeye, as well as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Wale Egbedun, will grace the event.

He said the Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye Oluyeye I, will be the father of the day, while the national head coach, Edokpolo Ihaza, is among the instructors expected to handle proceedings during the clinic.

Speaking on the project, Vice President of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, Sheriff Hammed, said the initiative would help to generate interest in the sport following the successful outing of the country at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, and the 2024 African Championships in Egypt.

He said: “I am so excited about this kind of initiative as Okeniyi and his team decided to improve the fortune of the sport with the clinic. This is what should be supported by all and sundry because our athletes must know the rules of the sports as well as update their knowledge to be able to compete with their counterparts in major competitions. This is commendable and we must support it because they are also going to give out the latest equipment to the participants.”