Wrestling: 40th anniversary ‘thanksgiving’ championship ends in Lagos

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Nigerian (Pro) Wrestling Federation on Sunday rolled out the drums to celebrate its 40 years  of existence  in the country.
President of the Federation High Chief John Uche  said the celebration  became necessary  in order to resuscitate the most loved sports in the country  which was  incorporated  with the Corporate Affairs Commission  ( CAC) and was officially inaugurated by then Civilian President  Alhaji Shehu Shagari  on  September 27, 1981.
According to him,  the Federation since inception has managed many Nigerian wrestlers such as former World champion late Power Mike, Ben Lion Heart,  John  Bamidele, Super Armstrong, Great Power Uti, Ultimate Commander, Captain Killer and  Afro the Giant amongst others  who later became world, Commonwealth and African champions respectively.
He  explained that part of the  celebration was the launch of N 500,000,000 appeal fund for  the construction of a multi- purpose sports center for the benefit of talented Nigerian sports men and women  just as he appealed to government at various levels and corporate Nigeria  to come to the aid of the Federation  in its drive to use wrestling and fight unemployment, crime and youth restiveness in the country as well as make Nigeria regain its leading position as the number one wrestling country in the continent.
The  celebration which attracted prominent traditional rulers and captain of industries was also used to give awards to prominent Nigerians like the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senate President  Ahmed Lawal, Speaker of House of Representatives,Femi Gbajabiamila,  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and former Kano State Governor Alhaji  Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso.
Others are Chief  Martin Agbaso, former Chief of Army Staff,Lt Gen  Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd) HRM Eze Dr. Uche Egenti  and chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)  Brig. Gen Buba Marwa, Oil magnate Prince Arthur Eze, Chairman of National Union of Road Transports Workers (NURTW)  Lagos State  Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya a.k.a Oluomo  amongst others while there was also cutting of the anniversary cake.

To make the event memorable, an international wrestling contest was organised between Nigerian Major Ariba and USA Bing of DR Congo which was won by the later to emerge as the new  African International heavyweight champion.  In  the ladder  fight, Nigerian heavyweight champion Mighty Man  defeated  Super Rosco with the fight between Flying  Danco  and  Mighty Progress ending in a draw just as another draw was witnessed  in the female fight between  Alexander the Queen and Stylish J.

Meanwhile NWF President High Chief John Uche has  appealed to Lagos State Sports Commission  to sanction management of Teslim Balogun Stadium  for switching off  the  light  at the Indoor Sports Hall of the stadium  during  their celebration describing it as a sabotage.
He expressed surprise that the Federation could be treated in such a manner which brought the entire event  to  abrupt  end  not  minding that they paid for the use of the facility.
“I’m highly disappointed  with what Teslim Balogun management  did to us which to me amounts to sabotage. We paid all the fees  for the use of the hall and for them to cut off the light when we’ve had only four bouts is unexplainable and  I want  the Lagos State Government and Lagos State Sports Commission to wade into the matter and sanction those involved in this act of sabotage  which is capable of  further moving sports backwards in this country’ an angry Chief Uche stressed.