Mixed Martial Arts official tasks athletes to prepare for international contests

Henry George, the 2nd Vice-President of the Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF), on Saturday urged its talented practitioners to hone their skill ahead of international contests.

George told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that such preparations were necessary to enhance the country’s performance at the 2016 competition organised by the Mixed Martial Art Federation for Africa (MMAFA).

He said the country’s practitioners would be expected to participate in the forthcoming championships that would be organised by the MMAFF for affiliate nations.

It is most important for us to gradually commence preparations for the competitions coming up in the first quarter of next year.

This is also to curb fire brigade approach.

It will be an opportunity to showcase skills of our athletes beyond the shores of Nigeria, and to show that we talents able to prove that we are indeed giants of Africa, especially in sports.

We are a force to reckon with having proved our supremacy in related events, just like the Dream Team-6 did at a recently concluded CAF-23 tournament held in Senegal,’’ he said.

The Vice-President, who described the sport as complete combat, said that the two national championships held within the year had provided a platform for athletes to showcase their potential.

The championships that held within the year helped us to discover talents in the mixed martial sports, that are enthusiastic about excelling in the profession. We really want to encourage them,’’ he added.

According to him, the participation of the athletes at the international tournament will help the athletes to meaningfully commit their talent to a profitable venture.

The mixed martial art which is a combination of all combat sports, is good for our youths to make money from, thereby winning lucrative contracts as advert ambassadors.

It generally improves their chances of being independent and contributing to the growth of the sports sector by representing and winning medals for the nation at international events,’’ he added. (NAN)