Boxers To Prove Mettle For AAG, Olympics Tickets

Obisia Nwankpa, Head Coach of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), has said that selection of boxers for the All Africa Games and the 2012 London Olympics would be strictly on merit.

Nwankpa told newsmen  in Lagos that this was to ensure that the boxers invited to closed camp gave their very best.

He said that the days when boxers were selected for international competitions based on past performances were gone, stressing that every boxer would have to prove his mettle.

The NBF is currently conducting an open camp for the selected boxers at the Brai Ayonote Gymnasium, National Stadium, Lagos.

Nwankpa, a former Commonwealth Welterweight Champion, said that only the best boxers would be selected for the two competitions.

“Selection of boxers for these prestigious competitions must be based on the performance of the athletes during training.

“Merit must be upheld at all times and any boxer who falls short of the criteria for selection would not be considered.

“If you had performed well in the past, you have to work harder to merit a place in the team and not rely on your pedigree, ‘’Nwankpa said.

The coach further explained that the federation’s proposed national boxing championship slated for May was being hindered by paucity of funds.

“The National Sports Commission (NSC) had promised to assist the federation with some money to organise the national championship.

“We don’t know how soon the money will be released to the federation for us to commence preparations.

“Whenever the money is released, we will go ahead with the arrangement,’’ Nwankpa said.