Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) president, Mrs Margaret Binga has promised that the martial-arts body will remain committed to training referees and other officials of the sport.
Binga said the effort is geared towards enhancing optimum capacity of the country’s taekwondo referees, for which she added the federation will make every effort in making the event one of the best in the Africa.
Sports247.ng can report that Binga said this at the end of a three-day refresher course organsied by the federation in Abuja.
After the conclusion of practical, stimulation and physical test, Binga enthused that Nigerian referees can now officiate at the highest l;evel.
She stressed that they would be able to attend international events across the world if they participate in refresher courses outside the shores of Nigeria.
Binga further acknowledged that it is important for the country’s top officials and referees to be at par with their counterparts from African and European countries.
She expatiated: “The referee refresher seminar was a success. We had new individuals in attendance who are aspiring to be referees and the performance was awesome.
“There was a lot of turnout everyone wants to be updated with the latest rules and regulations of the World Takewondo.
“Most of our referees do not want to left in the dark and, at the end of the day you could see the enthusiasm on the faces of the referees that they are ready, willing and open to learn and develop themselves.
“Nigeria referees can officiate at international competition. The only thing is for them to attend international referee refreshers.
“This course we just ended here is to prepare them for the challenges ahead. I am sure they are prepared to face the challenges.
“I think the only support is what I am giving to them because 99% of our referees do not have the opportunity to attend these courses outside the country.
“They will have up to date rules and regulations which will guide them to train their athletes to become clean athletes.
“For the few of us who are able to go and have the privileges to officiate in top ranked tournament, we bring back our experiences home to make sure that our own referees are not left in the dark.”
