By Daily Sports on January 27, 2017

Lack of competitions has been identified as the greatest challenge militating against the development of the noble game of self-defence (boxing). This observation was made by the Head Coach of Anambra State Boxing Association, Innocent Nwokocha, who is also a staff of the Ministry of Sports.

Nwokocha spoke in an exclusive telephone interview with Daily Sports.

According to the former boxer turned trainer, the game is suffering from acute lack of competitions thereby retarding the development of the sports that first put the country on the world map.

He explained that he, as a coach is tired of training boxers without exposure through local and international championships year in year out.

“There cannot be any progress in this noble game of act of self-defence when after training athletes they are not exposed through competitions,” Nwokocha stressed.

“This lack of championships both locally and internationally is the greatest challenge militating against the development of the sport in the country. There are no championships where the trained boxers can access their capabilities and progress in the game.

“All we have been doing over the years is to train them and at the end of the day, there will be no competition for both the trained boxers and the coaches to know the level of progress made and at the same time find solutions to perhaps the shortcomings of such boxers.

“As a matter of fact, I am frustrated by this development because as we speak, there is no training going on in the state as far as boxing is concerned because there are no championships. So, the question is after training what next?

“It is only through competitions that boxers get some financial rewards but since there are no competitions, where will the athletes get financial reward for their upkeep for those who are not engaged by the Ministry? That is why many of our young promising boxers have abandoned the game to look for something else to do in order to make ends meet. 

“The only people you see in the state as boxers are those who are engaged in the Ministry because they are taken as staff of the Ministry and they are in the pay roll of the Sports Ministry but the question is, what about those others who have the potential to become stars in the near future but are not engaged as staff of the Ministry of Sports? It is a big problem,” Nwokocha lamented.

Speaking further, the Abia State-born former boxer explained that during his days in school as a boxer, there used to be many championships both locally and internationally which made them attain certain heights in the pugilistic sport.

“This is not the type of thing we experienced as young boxers during our time. In those days in the 80’s, as students in schools, we used to have series of competitions that we participate in both locally and internationally. But today there are no championships anywhere both locally and internationally.

“It is through these championships that we earn some money to keep us going. You can’t be a boxer in empty stomach. It is not possible.

“As a matter of fact, the lack of competitions has thrown a lot of would be good boxers into the unemployment or labour market which is not good enough.

“I, therefore, want to use this opportunity to call on the authorities and lovers of the noble game of boxing to organise championships for boxers in the state and country; and by so doing the sport can be revived for the honour and glory of the state and country,” Coach Nwokocha appealed.

•Gov. Willie Obiano

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 27, 2017

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