Joel Ajayi
The newly re-elected President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Engr. Chief Giandomenico Massari, has pledged that his administration will give its best to take Nigerian cycling to greater heights.
Massari gave this assurance on Monday in Abuja shortly after he and other board members were inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko. He charged the new board to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the growth and development of cycling across the country.
Expressing gratitude for the support already shown by the Commission, Massari said cycling in Nigeria had previously been unpopular, but recent progress has proven that the sport has a bright future.
“Cycling was not a popular sport in Nigeria, but we must change that trend. In recent years, our athletes—especially the women—have brought glory to the nation by winning medals both in track and road events. We have even competed at the Olympic Games, which is a remarkable milestone,” he said.
Highlighting recent achievements, the CFN President noted that two Nigerian junior female cyclists are currently in Kigali, Rwanda, on scholarship, preparing for the World Cycling Championship—the first-ever to be hosted in Africa.
“We have qualified at the continental level, won several medals, and, for the first time, secured World Championship slots in both track and road cycling. We also made history by participating in the Olympics for the first time in both categories,” Massari explained.
While praising the women’s remarkable performances, he acknowledged the challenges in the male category but assured that deliberate steps would be taken to bridge the gap.
“Our male riders are talented, but the competition is tough. With more dedication, planning, and investment, we will close the performance gap. For the women, we have already recorded significant milestones, including Olympic qualification,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Massari stressed the importance of careful and strategic planning, emphasizing unity among all stakeholders.
“We are just beginning, and we are carefully planning for the future. I believe in strategic planning, not impulsive actions. My focus is on bringing all stakeholders and supporters together. With unity, we can achieve our goals,” he added.
