By Aderonke Ojo
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi , says their coming to the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN ) is to give Nigeria an Olympic Medal in the future.
Kazuyoshi said this on Friday in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the opening ceremony of the Maiden edition of Japanese Ambassador’s karate tournament.
According to him, “the reason I am organizing the tournament with the Karate Federation is because I want to support Nigerian karate athletes so they can be ready to participate in the next Olympic Games.
“ I think that there is a great interest in Nigeria. We are enhancing bilateral relationship through sporting karate,” he said.
“ I plan to contribute to the promotion of Karate Federation So we will be hosting many more events we will continue in our donation to the students and practitioner of karate.
“ we also plan on organizing training for karate coaches and the referees in the future.
“ I hope that trained karate practitioner will become barriers to human capital in the society and contribute to further economic development and grassroots democratic in Nigeria,” he said.
On his part, the President of KFN, Silas Agara, said that we want to appreciate the Japanese government’s true the Ambassador to Nigeria for this wonderful presentation that is coming through the Japanese government to support karate in Nigeria.
“ This is the first edition, the Japanese ambassador championship in Nigeria.
“ It have been on the pipeline for over eight years and we were unable to realize that vision.
The former deputy governor of Nasarawa state further said “I’m happy with the turnout of the athlete from various state here. I’m happy with the presence of the ambassadors.
“ The commitment shown by the Embassy to promote sports in Nigeria, especially karate.
“ I believe that this is what we need to turn around karate in Nigeria with the collaboration of the Embassy. I’m quite sure that the athlete will respond to glory and we will see a karate having an upward in terms of championship.
“I believe that Nigeria will witnessed what the embassy will do not just to karate but to other combatant Sport In Nigeria,” he said.
He However added that the continuity of this Championships as said by the Japanese Embassy will be sustained by making it an annual championship.
“we decided to make the championship a ranking event . It’s will make it seven event rankings in Nigeria.
The Maiden edition of Japanese Ambassador’s karate tournament “of KFN ranked event factor “ 6 “.
About 17 states , seven Parastatals and three clubs are participating in the ongoing competition.
The Championships which commenced on Wednesday the 6th of April is expected to end on Saturday, 9thnof April at the Indoor sports Hall package B ,National stadium Abuja.
