Nigerian Karate Kas Need Exposure, Says British Athlete

The Nigeria Karate Federation (NKF) should expose its karatekas to international competitions to ensure rapid development of the sport, British athlete, Frank Brennan said in Lagos.

The Briton told newsmen that what the karatekas needed to attain international recognition was regular participation in international championships.

Brennan, from the Karate Union of Great Britain, was in Nigeria to organise a karate training programme for the Lagos Karate Association.

“The NKF should allow the athletes to travel abroad to participate in international competitions to improve their skills in the art,” said the seventh Dan karateka.

“There has been a tremendous improvement in the standard of the sport in the country in the last five years; it is impressive,” he said.

The four-day course, tagged “Training with the Champions 2010”, was conducted by Brennan and Andy Sherry, an eighth Dan karateka.

Brennan, who spoke on behalf of Sherry at the closing ceremony at the Lagos State Sports Council, Yaba, Lagos, commended the athletes’ enthusiasm.

“We are so inspired by the enthusiasm displayed by the athletes at the programme. They have worked so hard and demonstrated good attitude.

“The feeling we got from the Nigerian Association of Shotokan Karate and the athletes was tremendous,” said the second time visitor to Lagos.

The programme was jointly organised by the Lagos State Karate Association and the Nigerian Association of Shotokan Karate.

Alfred Ohimai, the Chairman, Lagos State Karate Association, expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the programme.

“I feel fulfilled with the successful organisation of this programme because the athletes have learnt a lot from it.

“They (expatriates) are the masters in the sport. They have the skills and the inspiration which we cannot boast of,” Ohimai said.

Kingsley Okey-Ejiowhor bagged gold in the male Kumite event of the training programme, while Edem Nutsukpo got a silver.

Shina John and Shedrack Akpiruo were joint bronze winners, while Blessing Akpa won gold in the female Kumite event at the expense of Alice Henry.