By Augustine Kalu on October 30, 2016

The story of the just concluded African Swimming Championship and Congress held in Johannesburg, South Africa cannot be complete without a generous mention of the benefits that accrued to Nigeria, especially the emergence of four Nigerians as officials of the continental body.

According to the Chairman of Lagos State Swimming Association and board member of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF), Rev. Samuel Jesimiel, who is also head of Open Water and Facilities of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation the championship rewarded the country generously with the election of Nigerians into different CANA positions.

According to him, this is the first time this is happening in the annals of swimming in the country. He said the election of the four Nigerians into CANA positions was an eloquent testimony that the regional body is appreciative of the effort of the current leadership of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation led by Babatunde Fatayi Williams to develop aquatic sports in the country.

Rev. Jesimiel stated this in an exclusive telephone interview with Daily Sports last week when Williams was elected Vice President of CANA, and three others elected into various CANA committees.

“We are in a celebration mood over the news coming from Johannesburg, South Africa where the 12th edition of the African Swimming Championship and Congress is taking place,” Jesimiel said.

“The news is that the President of Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAF) and the 2nd vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Mr. Babatunde Fatayi Williams has been elected as the Vice President of CANA during the Congress in South Africa.

“This is the very first time a Nigerian will be elected into such high position in CANA since the history of swimming in this country. For us, it is the best new of the year and we are delighted over the development and that is why we are very happy and celebrating this time round.

“CANA even went ahead to elect us when two of us were not physically present due to circumstances beyond our control. The three committees where we were elected into are the three major aquatics sports that we are working very hard to develop. So, our being elected into their committees wouldn’t have come at a better time,” Rev. Jesimiel explained.

“The three Nigerians elected into various CANA Committees are Capt. Gbenga Lawal, the immediate past chairman of CANA Technical Committee on Swimming. He was re-elected into the swimming technical committee as a member this time and not as chairman. He attended the Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa where he presided over the technical matters during the 12th edition of the African Swimming Championship/Congress.

“I was elected into CANA Technical Committee on Open Water, while the last and not the least is Coach Emmanuel Emefuna a.k.a (Coach Goodie); he was elected into CANA Technical Committee on Water Polo. And the most interesting thing about this our election is that we were elected into those committees in absentia.    

“I can tell you that we have never had it so good. It is not easy to have four people from the same county in four different CANA positions. It is no mean feat and we appreciate the confidence the continental body reposed in us.

“I believe that it is their modest way of acknowledging the effort of the current leadership of NAF to develop aquatics sports in the country,” Jesimiel explained. 

•Photo shows Rev. Samuel Jesimiel.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 30, 2016

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