National boxing coach Tony Konyegwachie is not a happy man that despite the performance of the country’s boxers at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the boxers could not make it to the African Boxing Championships, in Maputo, Mozambique.
Specifically, Konyegwachie lamented that he has started losing faith in the system, saying he expected that country to consolidate on her outing in Birmingham by offering the boxers the opportunity to be part of the continental showpiece ahead of the 2023 African Games in Ghana.
“I am not too happy that when you take a leap in the sport based on the performance in Birmingham, you will be forced to take some steps backward which for me is not too good for the sport,” he said.“ I had expected that after the Commonwealth Games, we would have exposed these boxers to more competitions because lack of exposure really affected them at the Commonwealth Games.
“Apart from competing at the African championships, the tournament would have afforded the boxers the chance to win cash prizes as the top three boxers in each weight category are expected to get cash rewards for their efforts.
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“ Unfortunately, the usual no fund syndrome came up again. I am just tired of this that when you try to make an effort, something will just have to draw you back again and I am frustrated with all these,” the coach added.
However, the Vice-president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege said the team failed to make the trip due to the lack of approval from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
“It is not too good that we could not make the trip to Mozambique because the ministry did not give approval for the trip despite the performance in Birmingham. At least boxing is one of the sports that has continued to put Nigeria on the world map and it is unfortunate that the sport has not been given the needed attention like football,” he said.
Meanwhile, 27 countries across Africa are competing in Mozambique for 12 women’s and 13 men’s titles to be awarded at the 5,000-capacity Pavilhao de Academica in Maputo.
211 boxers made up of 64 women and 147 men – are competing in the event, which returned to the calendar for the first time since 2017, when it was hosted by the Democratic Republic of Congo.