Mbagwu athletes to take advantage of online professional  fitness lessons

• Condoles with weightlifting federation over president’s death 

President of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Kelechukwu Mbagwu, has charged the country’s athletes to take advantage of exercise lessons from various sports professionals online to maintain full physical fitness during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mbagwu noted that it was essential for athletes to keep fit during the compulsory break in sporting activities because it would assist keep them positive minded in their career.

The NRFF president also urged rugby players to use the opportunity to adopt strategies that would help them to lift the standard of the game in Nigeria when the lockdown is over.

“The length of the lockdown is not totally in our hands, so personal fitness regimes are important. There is a lot of advice online from professional athletes and trainers who know much more than I do.

“So, rugby players and other  athletes need to learn from the professionals to keep fit. I do believe every athlete and sports personality should indulge in self-workout sessions even just for their own wellbeing.

“Keeping fit increases an athlete’s sense of positivity. We are in uncharted waters of COVID-19 pandemic and it is our responsibly to be at our best mentally and physically during the lockdown,” he said.

Also speaking on the 2020 rugby season, the NRFF president revealed that plans were ongoing to align the calendar with the prevailing global programme.

“We cannot escape the fact that this pandemic is indeed a huge disruption which will impact for quite a while on plans for the year ahead. I am in constant touch with the leadership of Rugby Afrique and World Rugby so I can tell you that a constant revision of the calendar is taking place but things remain rather fluid.

“I heard of a tentative September date for the resumption of playing rugby but to be honest it would be foolhardy to make any firm commitments for now.”

“I also view the planned elections this year by the world body with be a little bit of skepticism, as we ought to be coming together to help contain COVID-19 rather than participating in politics.

“Definitely I understand the extreme hardship this lockdown will have on all Nigerians, so I encourage all to please trust the government to do the right thing to safeguard Nigerians. I am sure if given a choice, our leaders would not choose this option of lockdown, so let’s all please take it that our lives are more important than anything else, including economic wellbeing.

“l also want  to also use this opportunity to reach out to the weightlifting federation and express our sincere condolences on the death of the president, who happens to be a very good friend of mine as well. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and comfort his family at this sad time,” Mbagwu  stated.