The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Wrestling Federation

  • NWF commence 2017 activities to pick national team

    NWF commence 2017 activities to pick national team

    The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) says it will start its 2017 activities with the 2nd Governor Dickson National Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa, Bayelsa from March 8 to March 13.

    The NWF President, Daniel Igali, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the competition was to select wrestlers that would form the national team.

    “This is the 2nd Governor Dickson National Wrestling Classics. It’s our national championships and on which the national team is determined for the year,’’ he said.

    The 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist said that wrestlers would compete in three styles.

    “They are the Greco-Roman, Freestyle and Female wrestling. Each style will have 10 weight classes,’’ Igali said, adding that each style starts and finishes competing in one day.

    He added that to participate, a wrestler must be a member of a state or a club.

    “This is to ascertain that a wrestler can at least be linked to a particular place,’’ said the former wrestler.

    He urged the states and clubs willing to participate not to register more than one person in each weight class.

    The Olympian advised all participants to give their best at the competition if they truly desire to make the national team.

    “Making the national team is a big deal and the slot is for the best and not average wrestlers.

    “To be there, you have to fight hard and prove that you have what it takes to make the country proud,’’ said Igali.

  • 2018 Senior Africa Wrestling Championship: Rivers State to bid for hosting rights

    2018 Senior Africa Wrestling Championship: Rivers State to bid for hosting rights

     

     

    The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation(NWF), Daniel Igali has revealed the intention of the Rivers State Government to host the 2018 Senior Africa Wrestling Championship in Port-Harcourt.

    According to Igali, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has directed the NWF to bid for the hosting of the 2018 Senior African Wrestling Championship  which will hold in the city of Port Harcourt.

    Sequel to this, the NWF will consult the Federal Ministry of Sports to submit a bid for the hosting rights for the 2018 Senior Africa Wrestling championship as soon as possible.

    In the same vein, Wike also wants the Ministry of Sports in River State to liaise with Nigeria Wrestling Federation  to host an annual  Senior  National Wrestling Championship in Rivers State.

  • Udeze hails Elegbeleye’s Diaspora initiative

    Udeze hails Elegbeleye’s Diaspora initiative

    Austin Edeze, a former President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), has praised the Director-General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Gbenga Elegbeleye, for his `Diaspora Sports Initiative’.

    The initiative entails working closely with talented Nigerian sportsmen and women in the Diaspora to identify talents to represent the country at major international sporting events.

    Edeze, the immediate past NWF president, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that the move would leapfrog the development of sports across the country. He said Daniel Igali, the president of the federation, was an example of how such an initiative could best be exploited to the country’s advantage.

    NAN reports that Elegbeleye had disclosed in London during a seminar tagged; “Africa’s Diasporas through Sports,” that the commission had mapped out strategies aimed at attracting foreign-based Nigerians to compete for the nation.

    “For me, Elegbeleye’s idea is brilliant and it’s a move in the right direction, because it has worked in several places and it can work for Nigeria. Igali is a good example; he’s a product of such an initiative. He was based in Canada, with a Canadian passport but in the end came home to assist the growth of his sport. He (Igali) has won medals for this country at the highest level and today he’s the president of NWF. That’s how brilliant such an initiative can be,” Edeze said.

    He, however, called for caution and advised the NSC boss to look for patriotic and passionate individuals who possess the desire to see sports develop in the country.

    “Its all about patriotism. It’s all about the passion of the people and their commitment toward effecting change for the country. We need people that will work selflessly; we need Nigerians that will single-handedly carry the burden of our sports on their shoulders just as Igali has shown.

    “I want to advice the NSC boss to be careful about the process, because the idea is brilliant and must be treated with caution,” he added.