KFN Wants Modern Equipment

The Chief Coach of the Kick boxing Federation of Nigeria (KFN) Wilson Okon, has appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to assist the body in upgrading its training equipment.

Okon told newsmen in Lagos that the equipment the body currently uses for the training of its athletes was now obsolete.

“We don’t have the right kind of equipment to train our athletes because the one we have right now, and it impeded our training schedule,’’he said.

He gave the names of the latest kickboxing equipment as hand bandage, crotch (breast guard for female), groin guard, long pant (for full contact), short pant (for low kick).

Others are tooth guard, head guard, foot guard, shine guard and head guard, adding that the upgraded version of these equipment are currently being used in international kickboxing competitions.

According to him, the head guard being used in the KFN is made of leather material which generates sweat thereby making it unhealthy for general use.

“The leather head guard is no longer in vogue, besides it is not healthy for athletes, and has now been upgraded to fiber; which does not accommodate sweat,’’ he said.

The coach added that the equipment should be made available as soon as possible, and made available to athletes to augment their training.

He added that as a growing sport, kickboxing has the potentials to garner laurels for the country in future competitions, and should be accorded the necessary to grow,’ the coach said,

Okonalso urged state governments to support their state association in the procurement of the equipment, as the 18th National Sports festival approaches.