NAF Games 2016: Team Training Command emerge winner with 21 gold medals
((AOC, Training Command, AVM Nurudeen Abiodun receiving trophy from Leader of TTC, GC Michael Ekwueme at Oluseyi Perinrin hall, NAF base Kaduna after emerging winner of NAF Games 2016 held in Katsina))
//From Shola Ojo, Kaduna//
Team Training Command (TTC) Kaduna, have emerged the overall winner of the 8th Nigerian Air Force Games 2016 that just ended in Katsina, with 50 medals comprising of 21 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze medals.
The one-week sporting event, tagged “Katsina 2016” with the theme “Sports: A Vital Tool for Professionalism in the NAF” aimed at promoting physical fitness and comradeship among NAF personnel. The annual Games, featured a total of 13 sports competitions, while about 670 personnel drawn from all air force formations across the country participated.
The Training Command team, that premised their fantastic performance on hard work, focus and determination, was spectacular in long jump, basketball, badminton, wrestling, golf, swimming and athletics especially 4×400 relay, 100 metres and 200 metres.
Speaking at the medal presentation and award ceremony for the gallant athletes held at Oluseyi Petirin Hall, NAF base Kaduna, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), TTC, Air Vice Marshal Nurudeen Abiodun Balogun described the victory at the NAF games as a result of long time sleepless and patriotic efforts that eventually paid off.
He further stressed that mastering the skills and techniques in sports could be likened to mastering weaponry which is essential to every military personnel, especially in the face of current security challenge the country is faced with.
He said the trainings, both in sports and weaponry remain important ingredient to the quality of officers produced by the command, believing that, with adequate support from all stakeholders, the gallant Air Force Men and women can always strive to do better.
According to him, “I’m very exited that our gallant athletes have do us proud in the 8th edition of NAF games 2016 held in Katsina. This is a proof that we are not just good at securing the Nigerian Air space, we are also good at sporting activities.
“Sports is an integral part of any force man or woman. In it, one is able to be at alert in every of his her engagement hence, the need to pay proper attention to competitions where a lot can also be learnt and apply to our daily living.
“We are here to rejoice and celebrate together as winning team. We will continue to strengthen sporting activities here from here, we are producing athletes for Olympics and its just normal to enhance their capacity to enable them continuously do the country proud.
Earlier, the Leader of TTC, Group Captain Michael Ekwueme, told the gathering that their victory was as result of hard training and opportunity given to them by the command, quickly added that more still needed to be don.
He attributed their outstanding performance to hardworking, persistence, focus, strength and seasoned coaches.
He however expressed appreciation to AOC and coaches for their unwavering support for the athletes to achieve greatness in the competition.