By Emmanuel Ndukuba
Awka, June 27, 2024 – Female sports coaches and administrators have been urged to encourage more sportswomen to attain the peak of their careers.
Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Chairperson, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Women’ Commission made the call at a one-day capacity seminar held for female coaches and administrators in Southeast in Awka on Wednesday.
Adeyanju said the two groups should work harmoniously because while administrators make sports policies, coaches implement them to achieve the set goals.
She said the job of coaches was to help young athletes to discover and develop their talents.
The Chairperson said coaches should have a good philosophy of coaching and themselves apart from getting quality training in the chosen field.
She, however, commended them for the success of Nigerian sports women, noting that they were doing well in spite of the challenges facing them.
She also commended the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and NOC for initiating the workshop, adding that sports women have been going through many obstacles to achieve their potentials in sports.
“They should be provided with all the support they need and help manage their strengths and weaknesses.
“Establish good relationships with athletes, administrators, management and stakeholders and gain their support.
“You must adapt your methods to fit the athletes and situation and provide constructive feedback when necessary. Good communication skills are vital,” she said.
Adeyanju advised them to be mindful of gender issues and encourage inclusiveness as well as take cognisance of the organisational culture within which they operate.
She urged administrators to review their training curriculum while coaches should endeavour to update their capacities.
She said some obstacles to the success of women coaches were poor coaching philosophy, lack of transparency in dealing with athletes, poor anger management, lack of tolerance, low level coaching training and lack of confidence.
In his goodwill message, Habu Gumel, President of NOC said the seminar was to enhance the capacity of female coaches and administrators in the country.
Gumel, who was represented by Kemi Obidahunsi, Secretary of NOC women’s Commission commended women for their contributions to sports development in Nigeria and assured that the Commission would continue to support women in sports.
On her part, Princess Alba Ugonwaezeh-Agugo Coordinator of the event in Anambra, expressed confidence that the participants were better enriched to overcome obstacles in sports after the programme.
Ugonwaezeh-Agugo, who is also NOC’s Sports Ambassador and Rugby Administrator thanked the NOC for the seminar which was the first of its kind in the Southeast.
She said that she was impressed with the turnout of participants, while urging them to go back home to build female athletes to achieve their potentials in sports.
Faith Okwunna, Director of Sports in Anambra state said the participants were better equiped to boost sports development in the state.
Four presentations were made at the certificate course which was attended by no fewer than 60 participants from the states across the Southeast.
