31st December, 2010
In a matter of hours, year 2010 will be confined to the annals of history ushering in year 2011.To this end, Boxing In Focus took out time to seek the opinion of boxing stakeholders on how the sport fared in the outgoing year and what to expect in the new year.
Though most of the respondents expressed fears over what to expect in the new year, some agreed that with the right approach the sport can be taken to the next level.
First to speak was the former National Boxing Team coach, Prophet Samson Aransiola. The former boxing coach, who was trained in the school of Physical and Health Education, PHE, in Hungary, advised the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF, to stay out of all international boxing competitions because amateur boxing on the home front needs serious rebirth.
He opined that there is no need attending international boxing competitions because the sport didn’t make any considerable impact in the outgoing year, hence the need for the NBF to go back to the drawing board to get things right.
Accordingto Aransiola, “there is no need for Nigeria to attend any boxing competition in 2011 because we have to put our house in order. We have to get things done before we can go for international competitions. There is nothing to cheer about in the outgoing year, so we shouldn’t go for international boxing competitionsâ€.
Another boxing coach, who spoke on what to expect in the new year was ex-professional Heavyweight boxer-turned coach, Oluwafemi Sholanke. Sholanke is of the opinion that year 2011 could bring new things for the country but cautioned that the NBF must be transparent in all it does if amateur boxing must develop in the country.
“Let us forget about the failures of year 2010 and concentrate on the new year. Boxing is a sport that wrote Nigeria’s name on the international map. I believe that we can still go back to the height that we were known for,†Sholanke said.
In the same vein, Oladele Pius, Chairman of Miracle Beach Boxing Club, said the country has all the resources needed to rule the boxing world.
Piu said if the likes of Cruiserweight champion, Lateef “Power†Kayode and Samuel “The “Nigerian Nightmare†Peter could be making wave in foreign land, Nigeria still has a lot of potentials, but the administrators must do more for the sport to be developed.
Former Olympiad, Jeremiah Okorodudu also advised the authorities concerned to go back to the drawing board, insisting that Nigeria is a country blessed with so many boxing talents. Adding that it would take the grace of God for boxing in Nigeria to be revived.
According to the former boxing coach “If you ask me I’ll tell you that we are blessed in this country but we have failed to do what is right, our boxers are suffering, after training with empty stomach they would go home and feed on meals that can’t supplement lost energy during training but if the National Sports Commission, NSC can increase their support for the sport, I bet you we would experience new lease of lifeâ€.
And as the waiting game for the new year continues, it is only a matter of time for the entire country to know if the outgoing year would either be better than the new year or reverse would be the case.
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