A Nutritionist, Dr. Alex Abegunde, has counseled Nigerian athletes, who wish to compete favorably and excel in global sports competitions, to maintain an appropriate diet and feeding pattern.
Abegunde told the Newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said that the importance of having an appropriate diet and acceptable feeding pattern in sporting circles could not be overemphasized in order to achieve the desired target and goals.
According to him, disjointed feeding patterns and low quality of food being consumed can be responsible for the dismal outing by athletes in various national and international sports competitions.
Abegunde said that knowing the mixture and type of foods that an athlete should be fed prior, during, and after competitions could guarantee optimum performance and winning of laurels.
He maintained that when athletes are fed with the wrong ration of calories, it not only hinders their performance but also hinders their rising to the peak.
The nutritionist also explained that it also retards the span of such an athlete’s active years in sporting activities.
“Coaches should master the techniques of monitoring and supervising the feeding pattern of their athletes across sports varieties.
“Implementing the appropriate feeding pattern can be capital intensive but Nigerian coaches and sports managers should equip themselves with adequate knowledge and information to excel.
“There is a need for Nigerian coaches to enhance the growth of the sport industry, especially with the acquisition of scientific knowledge and skills.
” Sporting activities vary, so also the type of diet for each category in order to achieve the desired objectives.
“While some athletes require very light feeding patterns for optimal performance, others can do well with heavy or another appropriate pattern under close supervision by experts.
Abegunde also urged Nigerian sports regulators and managers to be more proactive in checkmating the issue of athletes testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.