David Osaghae Judo and Sports Foundation has secured a partnership with Africa Top Team to promote Combat Sports in Nigeria.
In a one on one chat with www.aclsports.com, the Chief Executive Officer of David Osaghae Judo and Sports Foundation explained that the collaboration is to develop and grow combat sports from the grassroots in Edo state and Nigeria.
The NUGA bronze medallist revealed that over 200,000 dollars have been invested into building a World Class structure in Benin City, Edo State in Nigeria.
Aclsports: Congratulations, How do you feel about the partnership with the Africa Top Team?
Osaghae: The partnership with the Africa Top Team is the best thing to ever happen in the combat sports history of Edo State and Nigeria. The Africa Top Team is an umbrella organisation covering and promoting combat sports all over Africa and creating training opportunities and career opportunities for young Africans.
Now we have combined together to search, train and prepare and invest in young athletes from Edo State. Africa Top Team will be hosting seminars and training camps for combat sports athletes from all over Nigeria in Edo State. It’s a good partnership
Aclsports: What is the mission and vision of both parties?
Osaghae: My Judo and Sports Foundation was built with the intent of preparing and training people from the grassroots, especially the very young ones who will eventually make it to the Olympics in the future 2032 and beyond. I plan on bringing European and Japanese coaches to help train these children from a very young age to adulthood and the Olympics.
The Africa Top Team has the same agenda for Combat Sports athletes all over Africa. It’s a common goal that will eventually benefit the young athletes who will be in our program. Sponsorship opportunities are all in this program that would eventually on the long run benefit all the Federations.
Aclsports: Do you see your foundation producing Commonwealth/Olympic Champions in the future?
Osaghae: Yes I believe my Foundation will eventually produce World, Commonwealth and Olympic champions. My belief is the reason I have invested over 300,000 dollars in the construction of such a facility to enable them achieve these goals.
My only prayer now is that God should grant me a long life to witness this vision of mine come to pass . We have an abundance of talents to pull from; we just need the right people and resources to manage them.
Aclsports: Why the investment in combat sports and not only Judo?
Osaghae: The original plan/dream of mine was to promote only Judo but God blessed me with opportunities to expand into all combat sports in America through Mixed Martial Art (MMA). I became the first African American in Pennsylvania to be certified as an MMA Referee and is the fastest growing sport right now.
I decided to add other combat sports to the events at my facility so that Nigerian athletes and fighters will have a platform to grow from to get to the UFC and other organisations
We are going to bring in coaches from America and Europe to help these athletes in my facility get ready for future international tournaments and competitions. The collaboration with Africa Top Team was the icing on the cake for the next generation of Nigerian combat sports athletes
Aclsports:. It’s a pleasure to have you on Aclsports.com
Osaghae: Thank you Aclsports for always shining your light on other sports.
