In order to emphasize the professional conduct of military operations towards addressing the security challenges nationwide, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja has directed that all training and sporting activities in Training Year 2024 should focus on those events with relevance to kinetic operations.
General Taoreed Lagbaja announced this today while declaring open the Second Nigerian Army Combined Combat Sports Coaching and Officiating Clinic 2024.
The army Chief who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Training, Maj.-Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi said the purpose of this Clinic is to give NA Coaches and Athletes in Combat Sports the required resources and techniques needed to improve their sporting skills, win laurels for the NA and professional competence that would help translate to troop's combat efficiency in the field.
General Lagbaja said, the clinic is to build the capacity of the Nigerian Army coaches and sportsmen in combat events on modern fighting and scoring techniques, which engender excellence in national and international combat sports competitions.
"I am glad to observe that the Directorate of Army Physical Training, has made appreciable efforts to deliver on this mandate. It is also gladdening to state that in spite of the focus on events with impact on kinetic operations, the Directorate of Army Physical Training, under the direction of Army Headquarters Department of Training has continued to innovate training activities to enhance the capacity and performance of our sportsmen in all aspects.
"Accordingly, the initiative by the Directorate of Army Physical Training on the novel idea of a Combined Coaching and Officiating Clinic in the Training Year 2023 was commendable. It was sequel to this, that I have approved the conduct of this Second Nigerian Army Combined Combat Sports Coaching and Officiating Clinic 2024.
"I am aware that, I am also pleased with the assembly of resource persons with relevant backgrounds, competence and experience in the various combat sports. I therefore enjoin all the participants at this Second Edition of the NA Combined Combat Sports Coaching and Officiating Clinic to make the best use of this rare opportunity in improving their capacity on modern techniques, current rules governing the officiation of all sports' events.
"While congratulating the Army Headquarters Department of Training and the Directorate of Army Physical Training on the worthy strides, I assure you of my commitment in providing necessary support towards the achievement of the objectives of this noble course and other training activities for this Year."
"Training is critical to Nigerian army operations and training actually is multifaceted. It includes training with our equipment and weapons as well as training without weapons because there are occasions when you might have to fight this out with the advisory face to face, eyeball to eyeball, in which case you might have to exchange blows, cheek and all of the combat sports that this training and officiating, coaching and officiating clinic seeks to improve capacity in.
"So this particular training will actually enhance the capacity of the trainees to slug it out to the advisory, even if they don't have their weapons with them. We're talking about linkage between sports and training and operation. Can you expansion on this? Yeah, sports is a physical 1activity and operations is also a physical activity. So training in sports is a way you can actually build the stamina, endurance, fitness of trainees to be able to face combat.
"You would agree being that through sporting events, personnel will be able to maintain their the appropriate body mass index to engage in combat activities. So it is not all about running in the Bush or dashing down and all other techniques, tactics, techniques and procedures that combat requires. We also train in sporting activities so that you can also enjoy what you're doing and at the same time maintaining physical fitness."
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Director, Directorate of Army Physical Training, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahim Bello said there is need to improve their fights and skills to enable them to win laurels for Nigerian island and enhance their professional capacity. The essence of this clinic is to build more capacity that would enable coaches and athletes perform articularly, which would invariably translate to improve troops, combat efficiencies in the field.
"The importance of training and adequate knowledge and combat is essential for sources in those sport activities. This clinic is organized to ensure the Nigerian Army, coaches and athletes are given the required additional training in tandem with international best practice. Indeed, you are all privileged to be part of this rich sport program.
"It is expected that all participants of this clinic make maximum use of this opportunity as the Nigerian Army will rest on you to justify trust and confidence reports on you
The Highlight of the Second Nigerian Army Combined Combat Sports Coaching and Officiating Clinic 2024 is the Combat readiness demonstration, wrestling and Taekwando sporting activities.
