NJF’s Rep Promises To Dev Judo

Southwest representative of the newly inaugurated Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF) board, Bolaji Yusuf,  has promised to ensure development of various grades of the game at grassroots level in the geo-political zone.
Yusuf made this known last Saturday in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Tidesports source reports that  Minister for Youths and Sports  Solomon  Dalung,  inaugurated the board of NJF and 28 other Sport Federations in the country on Friday, while Gymnatsics and Taekwondo are yet to be inaugurated.
He said that the urge to expose hidden talents in the region drove him into the federation.
“There are lots of raw talents in the game of judo in every corner of the states that constitute the southwest and they need to get the required support for the world to appreciate them.
“I am going to seek necessary supports in organising competitions for cadets up to men’s championship at the grassroots so that we can always get the best for zonal, national and international events.
“There are lots of local and international competitions in Judo and I am passionate in ensuring that southwest remains a force to reckon with in the game,” he said.
The representative from Lagos State added that he would use his goodwill to draw sponsors for the development of the game at grassroots.
“I believe with goodwill, the board members and advocacy to key stakeholders, southwest Judo will be better developed under my watch.
“Government cannot do everything alone in the ongoing efforts to develop sports in the country,” he said.
On what informed his doggedness in spite of the stiff competition in the race to represent the zone, Yusuf attributed it to passion.
“I am passionate about my wish to develop Judo at the grassroots and the nation at large, so I became resolute despite the oppositions.”
Judo delegates from the six southwest states had 3-3 tie vote, three times during the June 13 Sports Federation elections between Yusuf and Musa Oshodi, immediate past-President of NJF.
Timothy Nsirim was elected President of NJF on June 13 as well as other board members but southwest representative election was postponed.
Yusuf was elected in the zonal bye-election on Thursday having got all the votes of four delegates present, which made him member of the newly inaugurated federation board.