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The president of the Nigerian Federation of Velimas (NFF), Adeyinka Samuel, says that the arrival of Italian coach Riccardo Bardine represents more than technical support: it reflects a strategic inflection point in how it looks worldwide and how the country intends to reposition itself in sport.
Speaking after sealing a four -year development agreement with the Italian Veliento Federation (FIS), Samuel emphasized that Bardine’s deployment is an investment calculated by Italy, not a gesture of charity.
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“The presence of Riccardo Bardine is not accidental. He tells the world that Italy sees a serious potential in Nigerian fencing, not only in our athletes but in our structure, our coaches and the institutional relationship we are building,” Samuel said.
The agreement, signed at the Congress of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, includes joint training camps, referees training and international exchange programs. Samuel described him as a great diplomatic and development victory.
“For a country like Italy, with a long Olympic tradition, associating with us in this way means that they recognize the depth of our ambition and the severity of our reforms,” he said.
He pointed out the successful host of Nigeria of the Junior World Cup of Epée de los Men in Lagos, the first held in Sub -Saharan Africa, as an important factor to convince international partners of the capacity and preparation of Nigeria.
“We show the world that Nigeria can organize world class events and produce elite athletes. What we are doing now is to build a complete ecosystem, from the base to high performance,” Samuel said.
Beyond the technical aspects, Samuel emphasized the importance of perception and brand in sports diplomacy. “This association increases our international image. We are not asking for help, we are forming strategic alliances. It is a Nigeria repositioning on the global map map.”
He asked public and private institutions to recognize the value of such associations and invest in sports beyond football. “Fencing is no longer a niche sport in Nigeria. It is becoming a platform for excellence, diplomacy and youth development.”
Coach Bardine is scheduled to start technical work with Nigerian athletes and coaches at the end of this year. The NFF plans to launch a national training program aligned with Italian methodologies and host regional clinics for Western Africa nations.
“This is just the beginning,” Samuel concluded. “We are building something sustainable. We want to be a center for fencing in Africa, and this association is one of the pillars.”
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