Lagos -Concerned over the volatile security situation in Kano State, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) has again postponed its planned refresher course for coaches/referees refreshers which would have commenced on May 19.

The President, NTF Referees Association, Ferguson Oluigbo, said  on Wednesday in Lagos that the programme was again shifted to avert unnecessary loss of lives.

“Due to the post-election violence in the North, lives of participants cannot be guaranteed, hence the postponement’’ Oluigbo said.

The  event was initially postponed in April because it coincided with the general elections.

The course is to update the knowledge of coaches and referees on the rules of the sport that will be applicable at the 17th National Sports Festivals in Port Harcourt.

“The officials need to be knowledgeable on the rules in order to have a hitch free festival,’’ he said.

Oluigbo advised that if the proposed course could not be held because of the volatile security situation, a workshop should be organised before the June 27 commencement date of the festival.

He noted that it was obligatory for the technical crew to undergo a refresher course once every three months because of the dynamic nature of taekwondo.

“The idea is to bring to their knowledge current strategy as well as rules applicable in local and international competitions, which should also guide them in training the athletes too,’’ he added.

Oluigbo said that a championship should ordinarily be organised along with the coaches and referees’ course to assess their performance.

NTF secretary Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare told NAN that a new date would be made known as soon as the federation concluded arrangement with the host state.

“We are aware of the importance of the course, especially before a national competition where talents will be discovered.

“We are on it and working seriously to have it before the festival,’’ she said. (NAN)