The Nigeria Aquatics Federation has disclosed that it would continue to collaborate with Swim Nigeria in identifying and nurturing grassroots swimmers into national limelight due to the recurring failure of nation’s athletes to win medals at international swimming competitions
The medals drought which has been come a source of worried to several stakeholders will soon be a thing of the past according to top official of the association.
Disclosing this in Abuja , the chairman of the FCT Aquatics Association, Mrs. Duru Nkoye said her association in collaboration with Swim Nigeria have embarked on talent hunt for swimmers at the grassroots level by introducing the Annual Swim Nigeria Championship Competition
The maiden edition of the tournament which was held at the exotic Blucabana.lounge in Abuja with 15 schools and over 120 participant in attendance in the One day event that attracted the crème-le crème in the swimming circle in FCT.
Duru said the partnership became imperatives due to the commitment Swim Nigeria has demonstrated over the years and the urgent need to stem the rot bedeviling swimming in the country.
“We are working hard to re-position Swimming in the country. Our efforts will soon begin to yield fruits. We want to get young athletes by this programme and train them to Olympics standard” Duru told Blueprint sport in Abuja
Medals and trophy were presented to winners in the different categories, ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14,15-16,16-17.There was butterfly, free-style, breaststroke, backstroke, there was individual medley relay etc in the highly competitive encounter that attracted several young ‘foreign’ athletes who are schooling in Abuja.
The vice chairman of FCT Aquatics Association who also double as the founder of Swim Nigeria, Disi Jimmy Celio disclosed that they intend to make the completion an annual event and probably take it to the Abuja National Stadium
However, Celio bemoaned the lack of the befitting swimming pool as the major bane and part of the hydra-headed problem confronting the association in their quest to uplift the standard of the game in the country.
“The Abuja National Stadium swimming pool has been closed for a long time. We don’t have any standard pool in Abua for our athletes to train. The pool in hotels are not up to Olympics standard” he said
He pleaded with the FCT authorities to come to the aid of the association by giving them a befitting pool.
Some of the schools that showcased their talents are :, Raberto Schools, Capvile Schools, Lightway Academy and International Community School all located in the nation’s capital.
