By Eddie Akalonu
Ex-internationals, Obisia Nwakpa, Jerry Okorodudu and coach Oketefe Nana may be chosen by the Nigeria Boxing Federation to constitute a panel of the technical team during the 18th National Sports Festival, EKO' 2012 whose mandate is to a source for and select outstanding boxers for the national team to major international events.
The move, Sunday Vanguard Sports learnt is to shore up the nation's dwindling fortunes in the sport given the dismal performance at the the last Olympic Games in London. Olympian, Okorodudu, who confirmed the development in Lagos, said he was informed by the Federation president, General Ken Minima that the work of the group is to be coordinated by Nwakpa, national coach and member of the technical committee of the federation.
"We have been told to look for and fish out the best boxers during the festival. The federation is hell bent on plugging all loop-holes that brought about the embarrassing situation that dragged down amateur boxing in the last couple of years," he said.
Okorodudu insisted that the federation may have listened to voices of reason to move away from past practice as several complaints by stakeholders reasoned in very strong terms that it was wrong and faulty for the secretary of the federation, a non technical person who formed the habit of solely inviting boxers and coaches to national camp.
"Although we have been told that's our mandate for the festival, we are awaiting further directives because I know the president will still work out modalities with members of the Board of the Federation. You can trust we are ready to attempt making corrections of what brought about what I would call technical and administrative reasons why boxing derailed.
We understand the concerns and plans of the president to take stern measures that will return boxing's respect and prestige and we will be serious and open minded about it to make sure that only the best in the country who have prospects are selected from the festival to represent the country as was done in the past when the sport had its glory days," said the former, national and African champion.
