By Maduabuchi Kalu on September 7, 2016

The Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF) has concluded plans to host a four-day FINA Officiating Clinic in Lagos from Sept. 15-18 to usher in this year’s Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Open Swimming Championship which will hold at the Swimming Pool Complex of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in about two weeks time.

NAF President, Mr. Babatunde Fatayi Williams, disclosed this in exclusive telephone interview with Daily Sports. According to Williams, who doubles as the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the FINA Officiating Clinic will have as its resource person, the chairman of CANA Technical Committee, Captain Gbenga Lawal (rtd.), former Chairman of the Technical Committee of the defunct Nigeria Swimming Federation (NSF), now known as Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF).

The NAF President explained that the four-day FINA Clinic is being conducted to acquaint the officiating officials with the technical skills needed to officiate in swimming championships such as the forthcoming 7th edition of the annual Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship, the flagship competition of NAF.

Williams said: “Of course, we are preparing for the Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship that would hold this month here in Lagos.

“As a part our preparations, the federation is going to host a four-day FINA Officiating Clinic for the officials that will officiate at the championship. It is a routine that whenever any swimming championship is to hold, there must be officiating clinic to acquaint the officiating officials with the necessary technical skills to enable them discharge duties effectively.

“And the FINA Officiating Clinic will be conducted by the Chairman of the CANA Technical Committee, Captain Gbenga Lawal (rtd.). He is the one that FINA normally sends to conduct the officiating clinic not only in Nigeria but across Africa.”

Williams explained that arrangements are at an advanced stage to ensure a successful championship.

His words: “We are working hard to ensure that we have a successful championship and as we speak, arrangements are in advanced stage to ensure we have a hitch free 7th edition of CNS Open.

“The championship will certainly hold at the Teslim Balogun Swimming Pool Complex. The choice of Teslim is very simple. It is simple in the sense that we are partnering with Lagos State Government for the championship and their facility (the swimming pool) has all the necessary facilities that are required to host a successful championship. So, these are the reasons we are using the Swimming Pool Complex of the Teslim Balogun Stadium for the championship. The swimming at the National Stadium Surulere despite undergoing refurbishment does not electronic timing and the platforms need repairs.

“The FINA Officiating Clinic will also take place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium because that is how it is done before every championship. It is true that things are not 100 per cent the way we would have like it to be but then, we appreciate what our partners have been able to do and will continue to do to ensure that we have a successful championship in days to come.”

Daily Sports reports that the CNS Open could not hold last year due to a number of factors, among them political transition, insecurity and the unpreparedness of Cross River State to host the championship.

•Photo shows a Nigerian swimmer in action.

Source Daily Sports

Posted September 7, 2016

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