Boxers will win gold medals at AAG, Coach vow

Tony Konyegwachie, Head Coach , Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), on Wednesday promised Nigerians of medal haul in boxing at the forthcoming All African Games (AAG).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 11th AAG is scheduled for Congo Brazzaville from Sept. 4 to Sept. 17.

Konyegwachie told NAN that the boxers’ performance in camp had been excellent.

The boxers are currently camping at the newly-built Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, within the National Stadium, Lagos where they were acquiring various skills.

“I can assure Nigerians that we are going for medal haul. We are going to bring back gold medals to prove that we are serious in bring back the lost glory in boxing.

“ The boxers are healthy and fit, we are taking them on technique skills, with the level of training they have been exposed to, the boxers are capable of fighting for long hours with their sparing partners.

“On our part as coaches, we have put in our experience and skills into training the boxers and we are pleased to say that they are responding well to training,’’ he said.

Konyegwachie, however, complained about lack of basic boxing equipment.

“We lack equipment like: the punching bags, gloves, skipping ropes, which can aid in the training proficiency of boxers toward a successful outing.

“Most of the boxers we have in camp, have no international exposures, and are not used to modern facilities.

“All we do now is to improvise due to lack of such equipment.

“But in all, we are satisfied with the few facilities that we have here and, hopefully, we are going to maximize them to the fullest,’’ he said.

The coach said he was optimistic that with the build-up to the games, the team will do well in Congo.

He urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to organise training tours for the boxers to boost their level of confidence.

“We have what it takes to win the medals but I would have loved it if we have training tours for the boxers, especially, for those who have not had international experience.

“The training tour will help the boxers to be conversant with the modern facilities, current officiating and also help to reduce stage fright and the weather,’’ he said.

Konyegwachie called on the NBF to fashion out programmes that would help in increasing the number of referees in the country.

“We lack the required number of referees in Nigeria. I am calling on the NBF to put in place programmes that will assist in increasing their number.

“This will help in a great deal to improve the growth of the game,’’he said.