UFAK commends Zainab Saleh for initiating Int’l Female Karate Championship

Commendation

By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, Sept. 24, 2019 (NAN) The African Union of Karate Federations (UFAK) has commended the initiation of the Zainab Saleh International Female Karate Championship for becoming a breeding ground for world class athletes.

UFAK, which gave the commendation on Tuesday in Lagos, said the event had continued to draw talents from all parts of the West Africa and in particular, Nigeria.

“The tournament has no doubt exposed many of our young talents to a world-class competition and many of our National Team members that recently took part at the All African Games in Morocco featured in the last edition of the Zainab Saleh International Female Karate Competition.

“The standard of this competition keeps improving every year and I have no doubt that with the visit of the Chairman of the Referees Commission for the Union of African Karate Federations, Zitouni Metyout, this year, the competition will yet again, be elevated to a higher level.

“Our most sincere thanks to Zainab Saleh for sponsoring this event,” it said in a statement by Olusegun Akinola, Secretary-General, Referees Commission Union of UFAK made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“And we hope many more Nigerians will be inspired by this example to sponsor similar Karate competitions.”

Akinola said that he was honoured to be the Tournament Director for the 6th Zainab Saleh International Female Karate Championships for the 4th time, coming up between Nov. 21 and 24 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

“As the Secretary-General of the Referees Commission, it gives me joy to see well-meaning Nigerians like Zainab Saleh contribute to the development and growth of female Karate in Nigeria,” he noted.

He said that there would be a Referees Course where officials would have the opportunity to learn the latest development in competition karate.

Akinola said Zitouni, the chairman of the commission, will also shed light on important trends in competition Karate, adding that athletes would benefit from attending the course and championship.

He said that the experience the participants would gain would contribute to the continued growth of Nigerian karate, especially as they continue to pursue the dream of attending the Olympic Games. (NAN)
MIO/ACO/PDE
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(Editing by Abiodun Olunleye/Peter Ejiofor)