The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jerry Okorodudu

  • Okorodudu begs sports ministry for salary arrears

    A national boxing coach, Jerry Okorodudu, is once again begging the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development to pay the backlog of his salary arrears.

    This time, Okorodudu, Nigeria’s boxer in the 1994 Los Angeles Olympic Games, U.S., says he is being owed nine months’ salary arrears by the sports ministry without any explanation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Okorodudu, a 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medallist had in 2016 gone cap in hands begging the same ministry to pay him 14 months’ salary arrears.

    The matter was later resolved and he got his salary arrears then.

    Okorodudu told NAN in Lagos on Monday the situation had deprived him of providing for his family.

    “For the past nine months, the sports ministry is owing me salaries and I don’t know the reason why I have not been paid,’’ said the national Light Middle­weight champion for many years in the amateur category who didn’t lose a fight.

    “I have travelled to Abuja and also written letters to the ministry but nothing is forthcoming; I can no longer feed my family and cater for my children’s education.

    “A similar thing happened in 2016 where I petitioned the ministry and the court ordered them to pay me the 14 months salaries they owed me as at then.’’

    The former boxer, who also won two gold medals at the African Championship in 1982, said that he had been treated badly in spite of his contributions and sacrifices for the country.

    “My pensionable job in the ministry was changed to a contract; the Nigeria Boxing Federation has also sidelined me by removing me from every competition.

    “I represented this country well as an athlete and a coach, but it is a pity that this is happening to me and other former sportsmen and women in the country,’’ he said.

    Okorodudu, who launched into professional boxing in 1985, represented Nigeria in the Middleweight category in the boxing event of the Los Angeles 1994 Olympics, has a contract appointment with the NBF.

    He participated in the Africa Boxing Championships and clichéd two medals for Nigeria.

    At the national scene, Okorodudu, won a gold medal in the 1979 National Sports Festival and he was in the 1980’s the national lightweight champion for many years in the amateur category.

  • Okorodudu lauds Ajagbe for starting professional career with knockout

    Okorodudu lauds Ajagbe for starting professional career with knockout

    A boxing Coach, Jerry Okorodudu, on Wednesday commended Nigeria’s sensational boxer, Eje Ajagbe, for starting his professional career on a good note.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former amateur boxer, who represented the country at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeated Tyrell Herndon of the U.S. in his first professional bout.

    The 23 years-old Ajagbe knocked out his opponent in the first round of the fight in 1.29secs in the Rabobank Theater, Bakersfield, California in the U.S.

    Okorodudu said that the boxer possessed the physique and strength needed to succeed in his professional quest in the heavyweight category.

    “I know Efe will do well in professional boxing and he has a lot to offer because age is still on his side.

    “He is a strong boxer and his experience in the amateur category will also help him to thrive in years to come,’’ he said.

    Okorodudu, a former Middleweight champion, said that the boxer made the right decision by switching to the professional boxing.

    “His present age is a perfect time to launch his professional career because in my days, I went into professional boxing at the age of 24.

    “So, it is a perfect timing for him to move ahead in his career and relocating to the U.S. is a plus for him,’’ he said.

    The coach, however, advised the boxer to remain focused in his quest to become a great boxer.

    NAN reports that Ajagbe crashed out of the 2016 Olympics in the quarter-finals after losing to Ivan Dychko.

  • “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    “Boxers train under mango tree in Delta”- Okorodudu

    Nigeria’s boxer in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Jerry Okorodudu,  has condemned how existing and up-and-coming boxers train under a mango tree in Asaba, Delta.

    Okorodudu said this was due to the absence of a boxing gymnasium in Delta that could enhance the promotion of the sport.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the boxers usually trained under a mango tree at a corner beside the Asaba Township Stadium.

    “It is a shame for Delta not to have a standard boxing gymnasium where its boxers can use for practice; instead the boxers and their coaches train under a mango tree.

    “I am calling on the present administration in  Delta State to visit this issue, and pay adequate attention to the plights of existing and upcoming boxers,” he said.

    He said that such a problem should not be identified with a state that had produced boxers that had represented the nation at in international competitions.

    “Many of the country’s boxers at the Olympics were from Delta State. We are a force to reckon with also at national championships.

    “The records are there for anyone that wants to verify.

    “We have William Azanor, (56kg) in 1980 Moscow Olympics, Christopher Ossair, (60kg) two-time Olympian, 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles, in which I also featured.

    “Joe Orewa (52kg) and Peter Konyegbachi also represented the nation at the 1984Olympics, while Gabriel Onoko, (52kg) was in Barcelona Olympics.

    “The most recent boxer is Efe Ajagba ( +91kg) category who was at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

    “With all these stars, Delta should have a standard gymnasium,’’ he said.

    The Brisbane Commonwealth bronze medalist was optimistic that the state would produce more boxers that would make the country proud at national and international scenes, if provided with a modern gymnasium.

    Such gymnasium must be equipped with modern facilities such as a boxing ring, boxing bags, assorted guards and coaching/training pad to enhance their training, he said.

  • ‘Nigeria will win medals’

    ‘Nigeria will win medals’

    A national Super Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Sgt. Obinna Onwumelu, said on Tuesday in Lagos that he was confident boxing would produce medals for the country at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

    Onwumelu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exposure gained at the ongoing national open camp has injected in the boxers the impetus to perform exceptionally at the highest levels.

    NAN reports that the Commonwealth Games is scheduled to hold from July 23 to Aug. 3 in Glasgow, Scotland.

    “The Games will bring out the best in us and from the training we’ve had, one would conceive that boxing has huge medal prospects for Nigeria this time around. We have the tools to be champions and Nigeria will have gold medals in boxing at the Commonwealth Games. I am certain about that. The competition for a place at the Games has been stiff and it tells you how willing we are to represent our country and produce positive result,” he said.

    Onwumelu said the boxers were gradually getting accustomed to the tactical shrewdness of Coaches Jerry Okorodudu and Adura Olalehin who was brought from the U.S. to help sharpen their skills.

    According to Onwumelu, Olalehin is giving us the best training in camp and I believe he will take us to the next level in boxing.

    “We are having the best training in the hands of the best trainers I believe this country has; Okorodudu and Olalehin have some wealth of experience.’’

    NAN reports that Nigeria ranked 9th on the medals table at the last Commonwealth Games held in 2010 in Delhi, India.

    The country won a total of 33 medals, winning 11 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze medals.