9th July, 2010
The decision of the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale, to reward boxers who represented the LG at the last Lagos Sports Month tagged Ibile 2010 has earned him accolades.
The chairman recently hosted the boxers and gave them money for making the LG proud, though they were able to clinch only one medal.
Speaking on behalf of Team Amuwo Odofin, Oluwafemi Sholanke expressed gratitude to the chairman for rewarding the boxers, saying the recognition given to them would spur them to do well in subsequent competitions.
The former Heavyweight boxer turned boxing coach disclosed that he never thought they would be rewarded until they were called upon to present the medal they won during the competition to the chairman.
He said when they arrived at his office, he was stunned when they were turned back by the chairman. Sholanke said he reasoned that the chairman, who had summoned them would not just turn them back.
He, however, hinted Boxing In Focus that they were turned back because they were not properly dressed. He added that the chairman immediately ordered one of his aides to make arrangements for track suits that the boxers and coaches would wear before they would be rewarded, and this was followed to the letter.
Sholanke, who trains amateur boxers at the FESTAC Boxing Club and Academy Federal Housing Authority, FHA 23 Road FESTAC Town, Lagos, Nigeria said: “I, on behalf of the boxers, who represented Amuwo Odofin Local Government at the “Ibile 2010†am using this medium to appreciate the Executive Chairman for rewarding us for what we did at the championship, we are promising him and the entire staff of the LG that we won’t disappoint them whenever we are called upon to represent them in the future, thank you! Thank you! Thank you.