• Porbeni calls for more grassroot support for water sport
Sub-lieutenant Mudassir Gulmah Adamu has won the FOC West Boat Race held at the Navy Town Sailing Club Ojo, Lagos.
The one-day championship, organised to create awareness for water sports in Nigeria and also discover talents from the grassroots, saw participants, including men, women and children, competing in different categories of the sport.
Speaking on his victory, Adamu said his target is to represent Nigeria at major international championships in future, while thanking the organisers for their efforts at revamping water sports in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation President, Rear Admiral Festus Porbeni (Rtd), called on more private sector players and other Nigerians to join in developing water sports.
“Catching them young in water sports is very important. There is need to give more enlightenment about sailing and canoeing because it can take youths with negative vibes off the streets,” he said.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Habila Zakaria, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral BJ Gbassa, praised the Navy Sailing Club for promoting water sports in Nigeria.
He promised that the Nigerian Navy will not relent in supporting water sports in the country.
Commodore, Navy Sailing Club, Tunde Giwa Daramola, said the club’s target is to continue churning out talented athletes to represent Nigeria at international engagements, adding that the club has over the years achieved laudable results in its water sports training programmes.
“Teaching children and youths open water swimming helps develop the body. We urge more corporate bodies and well meaning Nigerians to help fund Navy Sailing Club to get better. Water sports is dying in Nigeria and we need to revive it,” he said
Among the dignitaries at the event was FIBA Zone 3 President, Col Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), who donated the overall winner’s trophy to the club as a mark of support to sports development in Nigeria.
