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AFN set to discover more swimmers for Nigeria

Posted : 13 February 2025

Nseobong Jesemiel, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Aquatic Federation of Nigeria, says a lot needs to be done to actively engage elite athletes in swimming.  


Jesemiel stated this in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.  


He called for more competitions to engage swimmers, noting that states often wait for the National Sports Festival before preparing and involving swimmers.  


Jesemiel commended the organizers of the Dolphins League for regularly hosting competitions to get youths involved in swimming.  


He added that many of the talents discovered through these competitions had gone on to represent Nigeria at the African and World Junior Championships.  


Jesemiel appealed to state governments and corporate organizations to establish similar leagues to develop quality swimmers capable of winning laurels for the nation in international competitions.  


“We are blessed with an abundance of swimmers at the grassroots level, who are currently excelling in national and international swimming competitions.  


“Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the elite level, where there are hardly any competitions to keep athletes consistently engaged.  


“Most state associations rely solely on the National Sports Festival, Nigeria University Games, and other state-level competitions to organize events.  


“This approach has not helped in producing mature athletes capable of competing at major international events like the Olympics and World Championships,” Jesemiel said.  


Jesemiel, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Organization of West African Swimming Territories, expressed confidence that Nigerian swimmers, with the right support and structures in place, would soon break into the international circuit.  


“There is hope, but it depends on sponsoring major championships and organizing workshops to continually train coaches on how to develop young talents.  


“There must be periodic competitions to keep athletes active and ensure they remain on par with their international counterparts.  


“This is why the corporate sector needs to get involved, as the government cannot do it all alone,” Jesemiel concluded.  

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