Wrestlers Begin Camping For Olympic Qualifiers

The Technical Director, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) Daniel Igali,  has said that  wrestlers have begun camping for the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers on Sunday in Yenegoa, Bayelsa.

Igali told newsmen in Lagos that it would be a closed camp for about 42 wrestlers.

“We have begun camping officially for wrestlers this weekend in preparation for the Olympic qualifiers later in the year, preparations are going fine.”

Igali said there were basic facilities needed for training in Yenagoa and that a greater number of the wrestlers reside in Bayelsa which informed the choice of the camp.

He disclosed that if the proposed training tour of Bulgaria did not get the approval of the National Sports Commission (NSC), then they would train throughout in Yenagoa.

“Well, if we do not get funds for the training tour of Bulgaria, then we will make do with training in Nigeria until we depart for the qualifiers,” he said.

Igali said that the NWF planned to qualify six wrestlers for the Olympics.

“Our plan is to qualify about six wrestlers for the Games and we are working toward it and I have every confidence that we can do it,” he said.

The technical director said that funding was the major challenge against the development of wrestling.

“I think we have issues with funding which has been our major problem, we have a lot of young talented wrestlers with potential but lack of money has hampered harnessing them,” he said.