In a statement released in Lagos, Chukwumerije, a board member of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria (TFN), made the rallying call after observing the progress being made by other African rivals on the back of just-concluded AFTU International Taekwondo Open and Luxor Open in Egypt.

“I am confident that Nigerian Taekwondo will be capable of standing up to them (African rivals) on the field of play, but we must start firm preparations now to stand a chance of making history at the (Pan) Africa Games,” the former Taekwondoist said in a statement released by the TFN

At the G-1 rated AFTU Open, Tunisia won three medals – 2 gold and silver; Cote d’Ivoire won two medals – gold, bronze; Morocco two medals – a silver and bronze, while hosts, Egypt won 8 medals – 3 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Ruth Gbagbi of Cote d’Ivoire had won gold in the women -62kg, Ben Ali Rahma of Tunisia, gold in the women’s 53kg.

Tunisian man Queslati Oussama, won a gold in the -80kg category after dramatically beating a five-time World Champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Steven Lopez of U.S. in the semi-finals en route to the gold medal victory.

At the G-2 rated Luxor Open, Tunisia won two medals – gold and two silver medals; Egypt, two medals – gold and bronze, while Cote d’Ivoire won two medals – silver and bronze.

Chukwumerije was not only impressed at then medals won, but the circumstances behind those successes.

He continued: “Morocco came with two athletes to the AFTU open, and won two medals, Cote d’Ivoire with three athletes, won two medals and again won two medals at Luxor Open.

“The Ivoirien Cheick Sallah Cisse had beaten Steven Lopez of U.S., a 5-time World Champion and 2-time Olympic Gold Medallist. He had also beaten established veteran, Damon Sansum of U.K. just before the finals.

“Tunisia also came with a same team and repeated the same feat, destroying top ranked competitors en route to their victories,’’ the statement quoted Chukwumerije.

“We are going to meet these people in six months time at the AAG, and they are competing all over the world, gaining crucial experience and confidence as they conquer the world’s best at these events.”

The 2015 All-Africa Games begins in Congo Brazzaville from September 4 through 20.

 

 

MasTKD Team

Source:   www.informationng.com
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