Kid Judoka in adults' fighting Toga

Judo kid sensation, Nsa Bashir is leading the nation's squad of fifteen others to face the rest of the continent next month. To get in proper 'war' shape, for the battle billed for Tunisia, the sqad had to engage in a national trials in Benin City, the Edo State capital; and little Bashir, was one of the survivors of the trials. Fighting in the colours of Nassarawa State, Nsa crushed all oppositions to pick a place amongst the sixteen, who were immediately, invited to camp at the Etete Indoor Sports Hall in Benin City.

Nsa, whose younger brother, Bassey also survived the trials, caused a stir in the African Judo Championship hosted by South Africa in May, when he picked a bronze. Of the sixteen Judokas in camp, only eight would eventually qualify for the Tunisian African Judo Junior Championship and if the Bashirs make the team, it would go into the records, as a rare feat.

For the Nigerian Judo Federation, (NJF) the trials were a great experience as it was happening for the first time in the history of the sport. Taking advantage of the lack of perceived lack of experience of the federation, some States stormed Benin City with over-aged judokas. But their game plan rammed into a brickwall.

The federation against their expectations, conducted a thorough screening exercise where such cheats were identified and sent packing. According to Mrs Tayo Oreweme, Secretary-General of the federation, such thorough screening exercise, was carried out by the federation to avoid being embarrassed at international championships."We were determined to go on with the trials even if only two judokas survived the screening exercise,'' Oreweme explained to nigeriasports.com

Sounding upbeat about the judokas in camp, national chief coach, Edokpolor Ihaza, who is in charge with assistance from Miss Dollor Oniti, told us: "We have a crop of boys and girls, who are growing up well in judo. My greatest joy about the trials, is that, we have a truly Under-19 team. We are going to Tunisia to challenge the best of Africa and taking this young team out, is the greatest thing to have happened to Nigerian judo in recent times."

Other survivors of the National Junior Trials are; Ilya Mark, Obikoya Adeniyi, Isaac Ezekwe, Adekunle Omotola, Esther Augustine, Yomi Ominiyi, and Lovette Edaife. This list also includes; Abieyuwa Broderick, Justina Agadahi, Victoria Akpodobri, Martina Uwandu, Chukwudi Ugorji and Blessing Obaraye.

Emiko Bake-Online Editor