BENIN CITY - Roseline Oriwoh, the Assistant Coach of Edo State Judo is a resourceful woman who believes the only avenue for one to reach the peak of a career is hrough hardwork and commitment.
The former national champion and graduate of the Nigeria Institute for Sports (NIS), Lagos has competed in several competitions for Edo State and Nigeria in which she has won laurels.
For instance, the fair complexioned Roseline won gold medal in Judo during the Edo 2002 National Sports Festival amongst others. She is saddled with the responsibility of discovering and training of female judokas for Edo State.
Oriwoh is not disturbed by challenges. She is the patient type who believes that judokas must be disciplined to achieve success in his or her chosen career.
Infact, a judoka must be disciplined. That is the first step to enable or make you progress in it. I have faced challenges since I started coaching not long ago. The job needs patience otherwise you cannot do it. For example, may be I give instruction to a female Judoka and she disobeys me in respect of a thing that will benefit her, I feel bad but I have to tolerate them so the work can progress and that judo as a sport should develop in Edo State”, Roseline said.
She disagreed with critics who think it is not proper for the female folks to do combat sport as judo.
“It is deceitful to say a woman that cannot participate in judo or be a judoka. It does not stop you from having children. People who say so do not know sport judo has no effect whatsoever.”
According to her Edo State female judokas won 12 gold medals in the Abuja 2004 National Sports Festival and in the Gateway 2006 too. She disclosed that her female athletes or Judokas are already preparing for the Kaduna 2008 National Sports Festival which will hold in November.
They are expected to participate in twelve weight categories as 28kg, 32kg, 36kg, 40 kg, 44kg, 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg, 70kg, 78kg and 78kg respectively.
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