Sports
NWB of C urges Sports Ministry to rescind eviction order, charts new cause for pro-wrestling

By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Nigeria Wrestling Board of Control ( NWB of C) has made a passionate appeal to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare to rescind the eviction order mandating it to vacate their secretariat and wrestling arena at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The Sports Ministry recently handed over the facility to the National Institute For Sports ( NIS) with the later given the wrestlers two weeks to vacate the premises. Speaking to Journalists after a special re-union celebration organised by the board for all the wrestling associations, Secretary General of the board Ralph Nwafor recalled that the facility was approved to the body by then Chairman of Nigeria Sports Comjission late Chief Alex Akinyele as part of the Ministry’s efforts at developing professional wrestling in the country;saying that evicting the mats men from the facility will not only retard the development of the game but make fighters destitute in their own country..
” We have been using this facility to train wrestlers since the early 90’s when late Chief Akinyele approved the place for us and it’s unfortunate that the Sports Ministry after handing the venue to the NIS,gave us two weeks quit notice, What this means is that they want to turn our fighters to destitutes and that’s why we are using this medium to appeal for the rescinding of that order’, he said.
Meanwhile the wrestling scribe announced that as part of efforts to re- position the Sports, licensing of fighters will now be a criteria for approving any fight even as he urged wrestlers to liaise with their coaches for their licenses
He posited that any fighter has the right to belong to any association as is done in United States and Europe while the board will concentrate on their constitutional role of sanctioning fights.
In their remarks Secretary General of Nigeria Pro- Wrestling Federation and legendary coach, Jimmy Palm spoke about the importance of cordial relationship among the various wrestling federations promising that they are out to work in harmony for the development of the game.
Also speaking, Media Director of the board Sesan Olukoya explained that efforts must be made to sustain the cordial relationship existing between all the Wrestling Federations as that’s the only way the game can move forward even as he enjoined the fighters to remain resolute in their training which he believes will help in ushering a new beginning for the Mets man game in the country
Highlight of the event was cutting of birthday cake for the media consultant of the board Sesan Olukoya.



