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 Daily
Independent Online.
* Friday, July 02, 2004.
Boxing is gone with the wind
The mesomorphic radix of glory
which the pugilistic art and act brought to Nigeria in the 50's, 60's, 70’s and 80's is gone with the wind. The great
exploits and achievements of Dick Tiger, Hogan kid Bassey, Nojeem
Mayeigun, Isaac Ikhuoria, Davidon Andeh, Obisia Nwankpa, Atomic Bomb,
Okorodudu, Peter Konyogwachie, Lat. Darasin, Abaham Tonica, Izon Reti,
etc., are still vividly and picturesquely silhouetted in the canvass of
our memories.
It is a shame of monumental proportion
that Nigeria has no championship belt and boxing crown in virtually all
categories in the boxing hierarchy. In the Common- wealth, West African,
African and World titles ranging from the Cruiserweight, Welterweight,
Bamamweight, Lightweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight etc., Nigeria is
glaringly absent. The titles won by Izon Reti, Bash Ali etc., were won
from outside Nigeria. The Asians, Americans, Mexicans and Europeans have
profoundly taken over all the world titles.
What has happened to Nigerian boxers and
boxing? The reasons are multidimensional, ranging from political
instability caused by the military and their politician counterparts in
their institutionalization of planlessness, inefficiency and corruption
in the Nigerian Sports Commission and the Nigerian Boxing Board of
Control (NBBC). There is also the question of politicized appointments
(square pegs in round holes), financial strangulation and tribal
sentiments. What a shame for a country that has produced world-beaters
and all-round champions? What is the way forward?
We must go back to the drawing board to
re-orchestrate logistics and long-term planning. This wi11 take us to the
grass roots and all educational institutions in Nigeria. In those days we
used to pick champions from primary schools, secondary schools, and
universities. But now the orientation is completely wrong. There are no
sporting activities in our schools and the grass roots anymore. Education
is now all about certificates and no more.
We must immediately recruit boxing coaches
and send them to all Local Government Areas in Nigeria to rekindle
interest in the pugilistic art. Every secondary school, college of
education, etc. must be able to set up a boxing team and let there be
regular competitions like it used to be. One thing wrong with the ABC and
XYZ of management in Nigeria is that Nigerian managers and administrators
believe in crash programmes and short cuts to success, so they never
prepare on time. This is the
time to act. We call for a total reorientation, re-strategization,
capital infusion, commercialization, re-surgeonization of the Nigeria
Sports Commissions and the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control. We must take
boxing to the grassroots and raise our inimitable champions from there.
The Nigerian Sports Festival tagged 'Unity Games' is currently going on,
we should take the opportunity to pick out good boxers. The Olympic Games
is around the corner we could still do something to avoid a dismal
performance in boxing. The only boxer to have won a world title five
times in one weight is Sugar Ray Robinson of the United State of America.
He set this record at the Chicago Stadium, Illinois, USA on 25 March
1958, when he beat Corman Basilia to regain the world middleweight title
for the fourth time. He was picked from a remote village close to
Illinois. We can do the same.
Bobson Gbinije,
Bogep Oils Ltd,
Warri
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