W/African wrestling training: Togo gets hosting right notice

The management team of Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA), the apex body seeing to the promotion of professional wrestling in the African continent in collaboration with the Global Wrestling Federacy (GWF), an international professional Wrestling organization based in Florida, USA founded in 2018 under the auspices of a Dentist/legendary professional wrestler, Dr. James McDowell has officially notified Togo of it’s choice as host nation of the planned wrestling training programme slated for next year.
In a letter signed by the Secretary General of the wrestling body, Olusesan Olukoya, the body said they are seeking the indulgence of the Association Togolese De Catch (ATCATCH) through the Ministry of Sports and Leisure, Lome in Togo to host the 5 day training programme that will bring together at least six athletes and two coaches each from the 16 countries of West Africa namely; Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra- Leone and the host nation, Togo.
According to the letter, Togo, a tropical sub- Saharan nation whose economy depends mostly on agriculture was chosen because it’s now thriving in sports globally.
“Football is the most popular sports in Togo and the country has enjoyed international success in sports. In late 1990’s, Togolese enjoyed boxing when
Super middleweight, boxer, Zafrou Balloqou was ranked in the world’s top 10 while Yacoubou Moutakilou and Abdoukerin Hamidou also had successes in the ring.
” With the latest plan on ground, we see world pro wrestling champions also emerging from Togo soon which prompted us to consider giving the hosting right to your country”, the statement said.
The letter reminded the government and people of Togo that as host of the training programme, the country is expected to provide suitable venue (Hall or open school field) where the training will hold. provide a dormitory/hall with foams where athletes can sleep for 5 days the training will last,
take reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of athletes during the events.promote and market the event to maximize exposure and awareness. set up a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) that will manage the planning and delivery of the training as well as help athletes procure low cost food at a centralized location where all the athletes will eat together to build unity and friendship
On the benefits that will accrue to the country as host of the event, the letter stated that the timely training will bring together upcoming talents and their trainers from the West African nations as that will unify the participants thus promoting mutual understanding.
Secondly, the consolidated media coverage of the event will attract awareness from neigbouring countries thereby giving tourism a big boost while the image of the host nation will also receive a big boost before, during and after the training, it will also be used as an avenue to further the good governance campaign of the Togo Government on the need to rid the street of idle youths thereby curbing unrest, it will also attract investment to the country as it will witness an upsurge of visitors during the period and also be used as a vehicle to campaign for youth emancipation through which youth and sporting activities can be developed and promoted in order to ensure youth commitment in the integration process of West Africa.
The letter also listed other benefits to include affording organisers a good forum to speak to the youth about the need to stay out of use and abuse of drugs, cultism and other vices, used to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Togo nation and for drumming support for professional wrestling as a healthy and profitable sporting activity, which the youths can engage in instead of violence, lay the foundation of an international professional wrestling academy where youths in West Africa can be given the opportunity to gain international exposure in the game as well as serve as symbol of peace and unity as it will bring under a single roof athletes and coaches of divergent opinions and views on the professional wrestling development.
The organisation while stating that the gains of hosting the event cannot be overemphasized, noted that it’s looking forward to a written response from the Togolese authorities on their acceptance of the hosting right.