April 05, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), has moved into the second phase of training for the XXII Commonwealth Games after a resounding successful trial in Lagos.
Two trainers and 18 Judokas will report to the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, on April 15 to begin the second part of preparations for the Games, which will be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from July 28 to August 8.
The judokas invited were those who scaled the trials held in Lagos from February 22 to 25, according to a press statement released by the spokesman for the President of the NJF, Ikpo Igbinoba, in Lagos on Monday.
Igbinoba added that the Federation’s President, Musa Oshodi, chose early camping for the Commonwealth Games because he wanted Nigeria to have a fruitful outing.
“The President, Dr Oshodi, has a mandate to relaunch Nigerian Judo and he is going about the assignment with messianic zeal.
“The Commonwealth Games will provide the first major test for Dr Oshodi and his board and he will no doubt deliver.”
Coaches in charge of the camp will be Edokpolor Ihaza and Christy Obekpa Aremu.
The following judokas have been invited in the men’s category: Cyprian Miracle and Micah Franck for 90KG, Muritala Fatai and Ihaza Oluwatosin for 81KG, Ika-Bassey Nsa, Jonah Kadijo and Rotimi Oyewole for 73KG, while Edwin Patrick and Eniafe Solomon were in the 66KG.
In the female category, there was just Adeyanju Bukola in the 78KG, Joy Asonye, Azeesat Adijat and Esther Augustine were for 70KG, James Cecilia, Enku Ewa-Ekuta and Victoria Agbodobiri for the 63KG with Telumo Dose and Agu Blessing for the 57KG.
On December 21, 2017, Birmingham was named as the host city, making it England’s third time hosting the Games after Manchester in 2002 and London in 1934. The Games were originally given to Durban, South Africa, but it withdrew, owing to financial difficulties in 2017.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
