…says Nigeria needs favourable draws to win medals at the event
Veteran Nigerian boxer and current national boxing coach, Jerry Okorodudu, has taken a swipe at the quality of boxers selected for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, saying they are not the best pugilists in their various weight categories that the country can offer.
It could be recalled that a seven-member selection committee headed by the Nigeria Boxing Federation’s Vice President and Chairman, Technical and Rule Committee, Brig. Gen. Joseph Ayeni, after intense deliberation, released the final four male and four female boxers that will represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games. Those who made the final female list are: Ayisat Oriyomi – 51kg (Lagos State), Yetunde Odunuga – 60kg (Army) , Itunu Oriola – 69kg (Lagos) and Millicent Agboegbulem – 75kg (Delta State) while, the male boxers are: Ojo Sikiru Fatai – 56kg (NPF), Soyoye Kazeem – 60kg (Ogun State), Paris Umeh – 69kg (Army) and Lukmon Lawal – 81kg (NSCDC).
However, the ex-Olympian told The Point that the selection of the four male boxers and four female boxers apiece for the Games was faulty and the process had not produced the best boxers that could wear the green and white jersey of Nigeria at the Gold Coast Games.
“I’m not impressed with the selection process that produced those boxers because they were not the best we can offer. The selection process that produced them for the Games was totally faulty.
“Frankly, I was not part of the team that selected those boxers and it’s only luck through favourable draws at the Commonwealth Games that can see Nigeria garner few medals in boxing.
“The Director of Field and Elite Athletes Department , Ministry of Youth and Sport, Tayo Oreweme, said she was the one who invited coaches to camp and she did not invite me because I did not have a boxer in the camp. I told her that I don’t have a boxer in the team because I’m a national team coach. Even if I have a boxer, I will give the boxer to a state, so that he can represent the state and not to represent Jerry Okorodudu.
“We, the national team coaches, are supposed to pick the boxers and five other coaches whom we think we can work with. I have told her that we, the national team coaches, are the ones who invite coaches to national camp and not her,” he said.
Speaking further on the problems militating against the development of amateur boxing in Nigeria, Okorodudu heaped the blame on the failure of the sport councils in the country.
“I will say it is the fault of the Sport Councils in various states because boxers are no longer employed by the councils. I remember when I was actively into the game of boxing, boxers then were employed and majority of them was under the payroll of the states which they represented. I was from the then Bendel State and all of us that represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games were employed by the Bendel State Sport Council. We were on their payroll!
“Boxers nowadays are no longer on payrolls; after training, they go on to do menial jobs to feed themselves. Also, nowadays there are not enough competitions even within the country to engage the boxers with.
“I also know that there are lots of international competitions, but presently, the Sport Councils will always tell you that there is no money to finance boxers. So the competition will just elude them, unlike during my time where I participated in almost all the boxing competitions available within and outside Nigeria, “he stated.
Speaking to The Point on his contributions to the development of amateur boxing in Nigeria, Okorodudu went down memory lane.
“I have coached many Nigerian boxers to stardom with the like of former world heavyweight champion, Samuel Okon Peter, who I actually coached for three years. I coached the like of Duncan Dokiwari, Olympic bronze medalist in Atlanta 1996; Olusegun Ajose, Commonwealth Games gold medalist and The Izonritei brothers.
“I have also been coaching the national team since 1995 when I came back from the United States of America,” he said.
In an effort towards seeing the successful outing of Team Nigeria athletes, the Director of Field and Elite Athletes Department, Ministry of Youth and Sport, Tayo Oreweme, has charged the boxers and other athletes ahead of the XX1 Commonwealth Games slated for April 4-15 this year in Gold Coast, Australia, not to fail the nation because the President hasdapproved all funds needed for the championship and they are expected to reciprocate the gesture by going for medal haul in Gold Coast.
“My advice to all of you is to believe in yourselves, concentrate in your training, don’t be timid and avoid all those immoral acts that will be detrimental to your success.
“The President has approved all monies required for the Games and for the first time in many years, your camp allowances were settled before the end of the month and all kits provided in advance and as such, you have no excuse to fail,” she warned.
She noted that the athletes must stop seeing themselves as champions but rather, think of how to surpass their previous records as athletes from other countries are intensifying efforts to dethrone them.
“As you prepare for the Games, those of you who are champions must stop seeing yourselves as record holders, because your opponents are preparing not only to dethrone you but to break your record. So, you should rather think of how to surpass your record,” she stressed.
Oreweme also admonished the coaching crew to take their jobs seriously because they will be rewarded based on the performance of their athletes.
Meanwhile, Federations competing at the Games will round off their pre-games training at the end of March and proceed to Brisbane on March 23, 2018 with the exception of Athletics whose 25 home-based athletes and five coaches are expected to arrive on March 25 as well as the Wrestling team who will arrive the Games Village on April 2.
The Games Village officially opens on March 25 while team officials will be allowed to check their athletes’ rooms, five days earlier.
Nigeria will be taking part in Athletics, Wrestling, Basketball, Gymnastics, Boxing, Table tennis, Weightlifting, Para Powerlifting, Para Table Tennis and Para Athletics.
The opening ceremony holds on April 4, 2018.
