A few months ago, I took my students for trial to know who was going to represent the school in all African games. The lady among them comes home with a gold medal in the trial, and the other guy comes home with either silver or bronze.
After that, we prepared ahead for the real competition, which is all university African games. This game will bring all the universities all over African countries together and see who is the best among them.
I did not have this kind of opportunity when I was a student, though, but I represent my school in another competition entirely. My student, who hasn't been to an international competition before, was so happy she will be going out this time around.
The competition was scheduled for nine good days from September 20th till the 29th of September this year. I traveled down to the place on the 23rd because taekwondo is meant to start on the 25th of September. I also took referee course on the 24th
Well, talking about my students training, they were being trained with someone I love to call a mom; she's more experienced than I am, and she's extremely good. She camped these students, fed them, and trained them for weeks after their registrations.
I must commend the efforts of these athletes because they trained so well and some even shed weight. As athletes, we all know the struggle of shedding weight; you lose your energy and almost everything, especially if you are shedding at the late time before the competition happens. One could not even make her weight; she needs to fight another weight.
My experience at the all African games is a beautiful one. Well, it's not the first time I will be meeting some Africans, but it's the first time I will spend days with them and make so many friends with them.
Seeing, one of the athletes full of anxiety, I tried to calm her so she could focus and fight. The rest of them do not even shake a bit. From their look, you will know them. To cut a long story short, the first lady enters the mat. Oops, I forgot to say that I only took ladies to the competition. Tilewa, Deborah, and the last lady who I love calling Izaw aaa; her is actually Florence, but believe me, if you call her Izaw aa, her head will swell up. I hope I will be available to call her that name in Nuga.
So the fight began with the first lady since they will be starting with the lower weight and she's the one. Her first fight was intense; I had to shout for her to hear me. Well, she won her first fight peacefully. She went for a break. And when she came in for the final, she was lucky she won the match for 4-2. So she's given coming home with a gold medal.
The second fight was Deborah. Ho, this lady is fire. I used to call her witch because her head is never correct for a moment, but I believe I love her so much with her craziness. She won her first fight and lost the second fight; honestly, I don't even think she can do more. She did so well than I expected. So she's given me a silver medal.
Lastly is my Izaw aa, Florence, I mean. She's damn good. Oh yeah, I mean it when I say that. It's so sad that she lost her final to a lady who she always beat back to back. No one believes she will lose that fight, but then we issued out what makes her lose the fight.
In short, we came home with one gold, two silver, and one bronze in taekwondo. The bronze is coming from poomsea; it's a form of taekwondo.
Taekwondo was the only thing that gave their school gold medals. And yeah, I'm so proud of these athletes, and I love them.
Oh, I forgot to say I love my voice from shouting; meanwhile, I enjoyed my everyday in this competition. I hope I found another one that will make me happy like that again.
I have made some videos of their fight to upload later; till then, have a good day.
All images are mine