NRFF targets Olympic Games, Silver Cup

By Akeem Lawal

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Kelechukwu Mbagwu, said the federation would strive to build on the success recorded in 2018 after Nigeria returned to the Rugby Afrique to play in international competitions.

Speaking in Abuja after the federation's first meeting of the year, Mbagwu noted that some of the focus of the federation in 2019 were to qualify for the next Olympic Games and play more rugby tournaments on the local scene. He said that already, the game had begun to thrive at the grassroots with several youth competitions being played across Nigeria.

He said, "The first meeting of the year offered the board members an opportunity to plan for the 2019 season. We had an energetic but highly successful 2018 season and we want to build on that foundation. In 2018, we played more rugby games in Nigeria than ever before. We rejoined the international community of rugby and advanced from the Bronze Cup to the Silver Cup within a little space of time. We are in line to play qualifiers for the male and female Olympic Games. We are setting up a grand finale for rugby in Nigeria.

“Our other objectives apart qualifying for the Olympics is to win the Silver Cup and have even bigger domestic season. We hope to continue breaking more rugby records.

"We are hoping that we will host the Silver Cup this year. The African body of rugby is favourably considering us as the host of the tournament. If the opportunity comes to Nigeria, it will go a long way in lifting the popularity of the game. Members of the rugby board have been doing fantastic job and I believe we are well prepared to do justice to whatever opportunity that comes our way.

"We are far behind South Africa in the game but we are doing everything possible to bridge the gap. We have a youth league, senior league and school tournaments to ensure talents are nurtured. Our grassroots tournaments are thriving. We have over 1000 children training in Kano, 250 children in a rugby club in Delta State and the school’s tournament organised by Seyi Opanubi in Lagos is going on. We have rugby foundation in Edo State and we have gained ground in Akwa Ibom State," Mbagwu said.

While lamenting little support from the Federal Ministry of Sports, the president expressed the optimism that the federation could still attract the ministry to its programe.