The growth, and growth of taekwondo in Imo State
"I am a SIX DAN,'' the man announced on stepping into our Lagos office in the National Stadium complex, Surulere. "And since in taekwondo, if a prectitioner has Six Dan, he is a Grand Master, you are therefore, free to address me as Grand Master."
The man, Grand Master Kuba Cassy, is Imo State's chief taekwondo coach. Not quite a short man. But it would be difficult for him to pass for a tall man. Dark skin, wears the hair-do worn by many Nigerian youngsters of the early 1960s and 1970s...a period when the Jacksons family (Jackson 5) took the world's music waves by storm. From his looks and utterances, it was easy to guess that Cassy would have been a 'show boy' in his yuounger days...in the days of hip-style trousers,skin-tight shirts, high-heeled men's shoes; days when men with bushy hair-dos, with side-burn beards flowing from the head to the jaws, were the vogue. On introduction by Grand Master Emmanuel Ikpeme, the man from the east querried: "Are you wondering why I am the one sent to pick up the two gold cups donated to us by our American brothers in the martial art? Oh well, call me the god father of taekwondo in Imo State, and you won't be wrong." "I introduced taekwondo to Imo State, Nigeria on February 14, 1991 through the sports council. Then gradually, it spread to the schools, colleges and higher institutions. Two years after its introduction, we participated in the Korean Ambassador's Cup Tournament in Lagos, where we won one gold and two silver medals. "In 1994, we were at the Mamboha Championship also in Lagos, where we also carted home two gold and two silver medals. We came tops at the maiden edition of the Eastern Zone Taekwondo Meet in 1995 and at the '96 Makurdi National Sports Festival, we were a force to reckon with; and that's what it has been till date. The list is long; too long to start counting," submitted the bearded coach, who is now also a national taekwondo referee. Satisfied that he has made his stance clear, he said over a deep sigh of relief; "these, I am sure, you'll agree qualify me to come for the gifts for onward delivery to the state governor, Chief Achike Udenwa. 0
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