20th October, 2010
On arrival in the country, the five boxers, who represented Team Nigeria in the boxing event of Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, had anger boldly written on their faces with a message to Nigerians: “please give us another chanceâ€.
The five boxers: Sogbamu Waidi 56kg; Lookman Lawal 75kg; Ademuyiwa Kehinde 69kg;  Taiwo Agbaje 56kg and Ganiyu Muideen have appealed to Nigerians to temper justice with mercy, asking for another chance to make amends.
The boxers expressed sadness over their inability to win medals in India, which many believe was Nigeria’s strength in previous editions of the Games. That of Delhi 2010 was an exception.
Waidi, was the first to speak among the boxers. He said the Commonwealth Games was an eye-opener not only for him but for the other boxers. He noted that the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF and the technical crew did their best by preparing them for the Games but it was quite unfortunate they didn’t win a single medal.
Agbaje, who represent Nigeria at the U-18 Boxing Championship in Azerbaijan prayed he gets another opportunity to make up for his woeful performance in India.
According to the boxer, who was two fights away from the medal zone at the U-18 Championship; “There is always a second chance. I want to apologise to Nigerians that we could not win medals for the country but that does not mean we can’t win in the future, if we get another chance I know we won’t disappointâ€.
Muideen, the 2003 All Africa Games silver medalist was disappointed that despite the confidence reposed in him before the Games, he failed to win a medal. He said the team disappointed the nation.
A visbly angry Kehinde urged sports loving Nigerians should not castigate them for not doing well at the Games because the boxers thought they would post a five-star performance in India. But, he regretted that they were beaten black and blue at the Games, where other Nigerian athletes shone like million stars.
—Adebobola Alawode
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