NYG: Boxing coaches threaten boycott over ineligible athlete

NYG: Boxing coaches threaten boycott
over ineligible athlete
on december 11, 2013 at 9:34 pm in sports
There was a mild drama on Wednesday at the
boxing arena of the on-going National Youth Games
(NYG) in Abuja as boxing coaches threatened to
boycott their bouts.
The uproar was as a result of the continuous
fielding of an ineligible boxer, Abdullahi Sani, from
Kano state.
It was understood that Sani had been fielded by his
coach, Shehu Ubale, in a male 51 kg quarter-final
bout against Egbulonu Nnamdi from Abia whom he
(Sani) eventually beat.
Isaac Ekpo (L) Super Middle Weight Boxing
Champion with his Coach, Seidu Kalifa, in training at
the National Stadium In Lagos recently.
But his ineligibility was not noticed then by his
opponent and games officials.
However, Sani went on to step into the ring for a
semi-finals bout against Lawson Shakini from
Osun, thus sparking off a protest by other coaches.
Amade Idenyi, President, Nigeria Boxing Coaches
Association (NBCA) said that Sani’s coach, Ubale
had violated the coaches’ agreement for the games.
According to Idenyi, the coaches had agreed to
impose a five-year ban on any of their members
who fielded an ineligible boxer at the games.
“Ubale now faces a five-year ban. Even Kano state
may be banned from the boxing event of the 2014
National Sports Festival if nothing is done by the
Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) about the protest,”
he said.
The coach also said Olusola Luke, the NBF
secretary, had been duly briefed on the matter.
Mustapha Osho, the NBCA Welfare Officer said that
the boxer too might be given a life ban.