By Maduabuchi Kalu on July 15, 2016

Steve Onyeacholam, Chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF), has explained the rationale behind the Federation’s decision to include schools in this year’s Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship which is slated to take place in August in Lagos.

According to the former national swimmer, the introduction of schools in this year’s championship is to have transition from age group to the elite swimming category.

He explained that there is need to expose the younger generation of swimmers to a competition of international category; so that they will get themselves acquitted with what is expected of them when they migrate to the elite swimming category.

“As you are aware, the Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship is an elite swimming competition for states and institutions in the country. It is of course, the Federation’s flagship annual event for the year as both officials and athletes always look forward to it,” Onyeacholam began.

“It is true that before now, the championship has always been seen as an elite competition in the calendar of the Federation, but we deemed it necessary to introduce the school or age group category in this year’s edition as a means of transition for the younger generation of swimmers to the elite category.

“We want to expose them to what is obtainable in international swimming competitions as the CNS is of international standard. We also want them to get exposed to the elite swimmers so as to learn from them.

“Their inclusion is also geared towards getting them acquainted with the atmosphere of international swimming championships so that when they migrate to the elite category, there would be no stage freight when they compete with other swimmers from other countries,” Onyeacholam explained.

Speaking further, Onyeacholam, who retired from Delta State Sports Council as the chairman of the technical committee some years back, said the Federation was looking forward to partnering with the Lagos State Government for a successful CNS Open next month. He said the reason for that was due to the fact that Lagos State has all the equipment needed in hosting a successful competition at the swimming pool complex of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

•Photo shows Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 15, 2016

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