Nigeria Rowing Federation Expresses Readiness for Olympics

Nigeria Rowing Federation Expresses Readiness for Olympics

By Hananeel Jackson

President of the Nigeria Rowing, Sailing and Canoeing Federation, Retired Admiral Festus Porbeni says rowing and canoeing will give Nigeria good representation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games rescheduled for Japan next year.

Admiral Porbeni gave the assurance when he featured on Sports Blast on Radio Nigeria Creek FM in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

He explained that Esther Toko had already qualified in rowing event; just as Ayomide Bello had qualified for canoeing while Kinsley Ijeoma would represent Nigeria in Para rowing, as three others are still in the process of qualifying for the fiesta in Japan as six athletes have booked tickets to the biggest global sporting spectacle.

He noted that having athletes from the federation would be a good opportunity for investors and corporate organizations to identity with the federation locally and internationally.

The former minister of transport pointed out that with the country's performance in the last Africa Games in Morocco expected to be replicated in the Olympics, Nigeria would be rightly placed on the global map.

On the challenges bedeviling the federation, Admiral Porbeni said finance had been a major limiting factor in tournaments, pointing out that he resorts to using his personal resources and contacts to raise fund for the body.

Admiral Porbeni stated that with the level of preparation so far ahead of National Sports Festival in Edo State, the Federation expects twenty six medals from the rowers before going to the Olympics.

He stressed that the Nigeria’s rowing team had been training for long time.

He however called on the government and private sector to support rowing ahead of the National Sports Festival and the Olympic games in Tokyo.