Turbo-charged Kalu lifts judo

In his first coming as the President of the Nigeria Judo Federation, NJF, Orji Uzor Kalu did little to help the sport. In four years he sponsored just one tournament and thereafter he turned his attention elsewhere apparently to his Enyimba project.Interestingly, during that period he made history with Enyimba by winning the Africa Champions League on two occasions.

If he was loved by soccer crazy Nigerians for that historic feat, (Enyimba shattered a 37 year old jinx by winning the continental title), Kalu was hated by those in the judo community with a passion.They had every reason to because the man for the four years abandoned their sport.Little wonder then that the governor was opposed when he tried to reclaim his seat at the judo federation. But determined to prove a point with judo, Kalu contested elections from the zone after losing government nomination. He won from the zone and crushed his opponent in Abuja to return to the exalted seat of the NJF.

Since his return, Kalu has “atoned for his failings” in a very big way. Now, he has proved a point and served a notice that he has the magic wand to make things happen for Nigerian judo.In the last five weeks since his board was inaugurated, Kalu has done more for judo than he did in his first tenure of four years. For a start, he rolled out the red carpet at the inaugural board meeting for the federation in Umuahia.

Those who went are still expressing surprise at the lavish reception accorded them. During that meeting, Kalu apologised for his failings of the past but promised to chart a new course. He has done exactly that. He has doled out over six million naira for judo in the last one month. After a meeting that consumed over a million naira to host, Kalu dropped half a million for the computerisation of the judo secretariat. Not done yet, Kalu released another three million naira for the trials and camping of judokas for the African Junior championship.

Nigeria is appearing for the first time in the championship. The sports loving governor has also taken care of the bills of the Nigerian team to the championship billed for Tunisia. Everyone in the judo community is impressed with the governor’s performance so far and the secretary general of the federation, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme expressed the popular feeling in the judo family “Our President has taken the sport of judo by storm. With the way he has started, judo will soon be the number one sport in the country.

National coach Edokpolor Ihaza said in his comment “The future of judo looks very bright and I am sure that in the next two years, we will be back to the top in Africa. Our president is ready to move mountains”. The governor according to his close aides has dedicated a special account to judo. “He is a man who likes to make things happen and that is what he is going to do with judo. The governor could have performed during his first tenure but there were so many controversies amongst members and that scared him away.

“Now he is back in full force and judo will enjoy every minute of him” the aide who did not want his name in print told nigeriasports. Com. Judo’s fortune will no doubt soar with Kalu having Mrs. Oreweme as his federation’s secretary. Unarguably the most experienced and exposed hand in the Sports Ministry Mrs. Oreweme has a track record of success after success turning around hopeless situations into monumental breakthroughs. She has done such in taekwondo, cricket, traditional sports, swimming among others.

By IKPO IGBINOBA, News Editor

She has started winning with the judo federation. In this partnership with Kalu, judo will never be the same again.