IOC trains 24 Judo coaches in Malawi

Twenty four local Judo coaches at the weekend graduated from a weeklong Judo coaching course at Kamuzu Institute of Sports in Lilongwe- courtesy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in conjunction with International Judo Federation.

The course followed a series of regional training exercises that started last year in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu from where 24 best performing coaches were shortlisted for the IOC coaching
course.

IOC offered the training under its Development of National Sport Structure programme following a successful application from Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc).

Speaking during the course’s closing ceremony, Moc President Oscar Kanjala challenged the graduating coaches to go out and serve in their communities.

“I urge each one of you to serve in your communities. You should not wait for the association to draw programmes for you. The association should just come in for support,” said Kanjala, who was guest of
honour at the closing ceremony.

The Moc president saluted Japanese instructor Yoshihiro Matsuo for his commitment, dedication and enthusiasm towards the training.

Judo Association of Malawi president Captain John Kaputa hailed Moc for accepting his association’s request to train coaches and submitting the proposal to IOC.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Jodo Association had requested his association to send its Judo athletes to Malawi for strength-testing games against Malawian judo athletes after learning about the course.

“When our friends in Nigeria heard that the Japanese instructor is conducting a training in Malawi, they requested to bring their athletes for warm-up games and pledged to foot all their bills. We have since extended an invitation to them and they will soon be sending a team of their athletes.”

The Judo boss further disclosed that Jika had accepted his body’s request to extend Matsuo’s stay up to June:

“According to the arrangement we had with Jika, the instructor was supposed to be in the country up to March this year but we put forward a request to Jika to extend his stay and I am pleased to report that he will be here up to June.

“He (Matsuo) had been in the country on a different programme involving Jika and Judo Association and when IOC approached International Judo Federation to identify an instructor for this training course, the Judo Federation did not hesitate to suggest his name,” said Kaputa.

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