By Daily Sports on July 3, 2017

Last week we discussed the continued non-payment of long months’ salary and match bonuses by the management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) FC of Ibadan to its slain player, Izu Joseph who was killed last year in still questionable circumstances. Since after the publication, SMS volume increased thrice with heart breaking words from Nigerians. Some used unprintable words, which I attribute to their anger that ran to high heavens.

To be honest with you, I have received calls against our mutual agreement that it will be SMS only. To refresh your memory, 3SC FC of Ibadan is owned by the Oyo State Government headed by Dr. Abiola Ajimobi who is governing on the platform of APC, a party that used deceitful ‘Change’ mantra to climb to power at the centre only to turn round to inflict pains and death on Nigerians.

In short, it has been years of nightmare for Nigerians who are now biting their fingers in hunger as abject poverty increases in the land unabated daily under the repressive, dictatorial and propaganda ridden Buhari watch. His cabal claim he rules Nigeria from his medical vacation in the United Kingdom, which has lasted for over 56 days now.

The sad aspect of the 3SC FC issue is that the player in question is late and he left a young family and aged father he was looking after before his brutal death allegedly by General Tukur Bratai Nigerian Army. However, the question many fans and callers asked was: Why will it take Ajumobi’s Oyo State government this long to sort out the slain player’s salary and match bonus issues?

Ajimobi was under fire, if not that the policy is not to publish text messages you would have been marvelled at the extent of name calling on the Oyo State Governor for failing to release money to facilitate payment of late Izu Joseph entitlements and the present players’ salaries, sign on fees and match bonuses that runs into months. My last line, History will judge Ajimobi harshly for his insincerity to the murdered Izu Joseph whose young family and aged father are in total suffering today.

To the League Management Company that has watched hopelessly, this abnormality for over 10 months without stopping Ajimobi’s 3SC FC of Ibadan from further participating in the ongoing NPFL Championship until these players are paid; To the Players’ Union where my friend Austin Popo has been demanding that the welfare of these players be given priority attention by the owners of teams if we must dream of mounting a viable and strong domestic league. The Union is handicapped to do more than we have seen. My heart goes for them.    

We will continue to knock on the door of Gov. Ajimobi’s Oyo State-owned 3SC FC until our legitimate request, which is the payment of year’s long sign on fees, salaries and allowances of these lads dead and alive are paid. I digress.

However, this week Sports Pulse has picked out of the lot that contested the usually disputed National Sports Federations elections held about three weeks ago to unveil to our readers. Though, tempers of losers and those disqualified are still high but they have an option, which is the Complains Commission or what have you set up by the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung to sort out claims and counter claims arising from the polls. It is a normal ritual.

I’m writing on boxing today. Boxing as sport is the first to engrave Nigeria’s name in the World Book of Sports. Late Dick Ihejieto Tiger carried Nigeria’s flag to the frontiers of sports world. That road map propelled late Hogan Kid Bassey to follow suit. In that colouration, the sport held strongly on its own for many decades until sadly, the man made law of diminishing returns caught up with the once enviable and flourishing sport.

The winner at all costs brought into the administration of sports in the country by Dr. Amos Adamu snuffed life out of Boxing and took its toll on other equally fast developing sports in the country. It marked the steady decline and suddenly free fall of a sport that hard much potential and gritty. It was the beginning to its end. Many seasoned and accomplished administrators had tried to bring the sport back to the fore but the rot instituted by one that held the nation’s sports hostage for many years kept frustrating such genuine efforts.

One of such remarkable efforts was recorded during the tenure of late Group Captain Brai Ayonote who gave his all to it. He started what could easily and safely pass as lasting legacy for the sport the construction of Boxing Village at the Sports City, National Stadium in Lagos. Sadly, his dream could not be fulfilled before his suddenly death in China while on national assignment for the sport.

The complex and Boxing Gymnasium were left abandoned by successive Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) Presidents. Once upon a time, the management of the stadium rented out the Boxing Gym to a Church on long term and pocketed the huge sum. The money was not used for the completion of the Gym at least. The arena was also used for so many unwholesome practices which the stadium management turned blind eyes to. Many ex-national and African boxing champions set up homes in some other parts of the large Boxing Village and lived with their families; and some other sports destitute followed suit.

That was the lot of a specially conceived Boxing Arena that would be fitted strictly for Boxers for camping which would enhance their readiness for competition. However, a deserved reprieve came the way of this long abandoned complex through the passionate and genuine love for Boxing by General Kenneth Minimah (rtd), President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation who selflessly completed the arena.

The Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex breath new lease of life courtesy of the benevolence of General Minimah who knows what the game entails and what the Boxers stood to gain if camped in a serene atmosphere. What you have seen in that extreme side of the National Stadium in Lagos was single handedly done by a gentle man Army General and Boxing enthusiast, General Minimah. His love for the punching sport is disarming.

Let me say that I have met the NBF helmsman twice before he was appointed Chief of Army Staff by the last administration. Both were at his Bonny Camp office when I was reporting for Daily Newswatch. He discusses Boxing with all ease as if it is part and parcel of his military training. He knows what the sports needs to come up stronger and decisively again.

It was a down to earth exclusive chat with the amiable General. Before I went, many thoughts ran riot in my mind and as a brave Reporter too, I blazed the trail and was face to face with a General of the Nigerian Army that knew what his mission in the Boxing Federation was. It was an unputdownable interview where he revealed his mission and aim for the sport that was long vandalised and drastically reduced like others in the country.

“He has done well,” echoed Boxers and their coaches. They spoke in unison, readily telling you that General Minimah was steadily re-inventing the game.

What I met was a friendly atmosphere unlike what I did expect. He made sure I was at home and there was no restriction on questions. He had surpassed what was on ground before his arrival. He responded to questions with relative ease and elaborations. What we have seen at the national stadium long abandoned was one of the highlights of that conversation.

He also said how Nigerian Boxers would henceforth be meeting their obligations in African qualifiers and sundry. Recently, Nigeria participated in qualifier of boxing tourney at Congo Brazzaville.

Despite his first choice in life which is soldiering and where he reached his pinnacle, his disposition to the development of Boxing plus welfare of the athletes remain one issue that kept recurring in my mind that we still have Nigerians that other peoples welfare who are not their relations still touch genuinely in their hearts and minds like the good old Nigerian nation I was born into.

Fact is that General Minimah has through being down to earth and comportment to especially the environment he voluntarily found himself in of late proved that there is glimmer of hope to Nigerians that there are still those that believe in being their brothers’ keeper.  He has shown gritty and hold to say the very least.

Without much ado, he has a human face. His reign in NBF has been revealing, rewarding and that boxing from its present programme is looking upbeat. His re-election at the June 13, traditionally controversial polls without any eyebrow further lend credence to his administrative acumen.

Boxing is harvesting. His father figure no doubt is playing a major role and influencing the upcoming boxers. Boxers who pleaded that their names be off print further revealed that, whenever they remember his name while in the ring, it redoubles their fighting spirit and propels them to go for the kill. General as they normally call him has encouraged the young ones and we are hell bent in our spirited endeavour to do him proud. He is a worthy leader whose word is his bond. He has proved such to the halt. That, there is anything like boxing as sport today in the country is his single effort.

The way and manner he has worked and carried people along look as if his life depends on the continued growth of the sport. He is a team player, and listens to all. When you first met him, he may cut a picture of a dreaded General, but when it comes to mixing up with boxers, you deeply see in him that humility, integrity, bravery, encouragement, sanity, stimulating candour, mission and precision comes to the forefront.

Boxers say he remains the best that has happened to the sport in time like this. His mission is honesty and hard work.  They added that many times the Ministry could not meet up with boxing schedules or programmes to travel for African qualifiers, the President has often times came handy and filled the yawning gap resolutely.

“You saw how election into Boxing Federation was peacefully conducted. It has been one big and united family since General took over the mantle of leadership. There has been no rancour of any kind, everyone is focused on what will grow the sport more than any other thing else. It is paying off handsomely. The damage that was done to boxing over the years is enormous and it is taking gradual and steady process to be repaired,” the boxers said.

As the new tenure of Federations’ Chairmen started, one is not in any doubt how boxing will fare because the man on the driver’s seat, despite his very tight schedules is one that does not take no for an answer. In short, a thorough and fine retired but not tired General whose thirst for excellence in anything he embarks upon knows no limits. He hardly misses NBF meetings as his contributions for the way forward for the sport matter a lot to him. He has proved that when there is a will, there is always a way. His taste where he wants Nigerian boxing and boxers to find themselves has served as his road map and target. He has not left anybody in doubt about that.

Bubbles have continued to burst in other sports Federations where four elections have been out rightly annulled. It is a scenario that would retard many sports’ progress as the power game continues to unfold. Athletics is one of the Federations that will do another election. There have been vested interests and blocks there. One will not be surprise if Basketball is also told to brace up for another poll. It is one Federation the tug of war and name calling has taken the front burner over the years and the end seems not in sight.

General Minimah has put the house of Boxing in order. It used to be one of the hot beds of Federation election controversies. He is in full control of the situation presently. His tenure has brought sanity back to the fold. Every member of the house is happy with each other. There is no blinking of any sort; everyone seems focused on the way forward for the then fast diminishing sport, whose posture has come back. It is all hail a silent smooth operating General that does not like any air around him, as his ultimate is to get boxing and boxers out of the woods, instil confidence and exposure in them as he repositions them to earn good living from their chosen career.  He abhors any aura.

I join the voices of other lovers of the sport to pray that he would be left out of the confusion, distractions of man-made hunts of the last two years in the polity so as to concentrate on his avowed task to sow into lives where others have not deemed fit to touch lives of the good of sports of their choice which would enhance and clear the daily increase of unemployment in the country today.

Our cry will reach heavens and as the NBF Supremo gets into an unprecedented second term in his rescue mission of the boxing arena. He has brought his nature to build human capacity and encourage talents to reach their full potentials in their chosen endeavours without any let or hindrance. Enter General Kenneth Minimah, even history is applauding you!  

For readers that follow us on Twitter, Face book, in share, WhatsApp, let’s continue our discussion on those platforms. Keep shooting hard, till next week!

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 3, 2017

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