Pro- Wrestling Africa commemorates 10 years anniversary

Pro- Wrestling Africa, the body saddled with the development of the mats man game in the continent has celebrated it’s ten years of existence with the body saying they’re encouraged by the successes recorded and will continue to strive towards introducing the sports to many more African countries.

In a World Press Conference to herald the anniversary, Secretary General of the body, Olusesan Olukoya noted that since the formation of the continental body on February, 4, 2015 in Yaoundé’, Cameroon, it has taken some giant strides in organising wrestling championships in some African countries.

” The independent pro wrestling promoting outfit was officially set up on the 4th February, 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon after a continental Pro Wrestling Summit of some stakeholders and representatives from Nigeria, Mali, Benin Republic, Congo DR, Egypt, Ghana, Central African Republic and Cameroon, the host nation, with the sole aim of advancing, promoting and rebuilding the mats man game in the African continent to what is obtainable in other parts of the wrestling world.

“The continental wrestling body was established with the sole aim of filling the vacuum in pro-wrestling so as to showcase the abundant talents and resources that abound in the mats man game in the African continent.

” In line with the corporate objectives of the organization, the body has organized many pro wrestling tournaments in Cameroon, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Ghana since inception and have also established pro wrestling Federations in Benin Republic and Togo.

He also announced that the Federation have taken some talented fighters to Europe as well as be in collaboration with some international wrestling bodies in Europe and America as a way of further developing the sports.

” It’s on record that PWA promoted the first ever noted African wrestling heavyweight championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon tagged the ‘Battle of Yaoundé’ in September 2015 and many notable championships have followed that epic making debut championship.

“We have also taken our talents to Denmark, France, Belgium and the USA while we hope to hold series of championships locally and internationally thus showcasing the abundant talents we have in the African continent to the pro wrestling world.

“As an indication that our vision for African wrestling is taking shape, we have gone international by promoting international talents in Africa. We showcased “The Golden Boy” Dr. Jimmy McDowell of USA in Cameroon in July 2023, Eagle the Great Nail of Nigeria in Belgium on the 7th September, 2024.

” We’ll be showcasing and featuring other African champions under the PWA banner during international events as we have able and qualified African champions in all weight categories who can favorably compete with notable grapplers from all continents of the world, be it in Asia, North America, South America, Europe and Australia,”

“PWA also collaborated with Golden Wrestling Federacy (GWF) Based in Florida, USA in training over 40 athletes from Togo and Benin Republic on the 1st and 2nd of March 2024 at Lome, Togo with educational materials and financial support from the Doors Youth Empowerment Initiative, a non-governmental organization catering for the welfare of the young persons in the society.

“All these were done in an effort to establish pro wrestling federations in those two French speaking nations and the training was repeated in Cotonou, Benin Republic on the 14th and 15th November, 2024.

Olukoya while announcing that Twenty-two African wrestling organizations are currently under the auspices of PWA, said they hope to spread the sports to other African countries.

“We sincerely have to spread our tentacles to other African nations. We would also be discussing with the Ghanaian Sports Authority on the need to have Ghana Pro Wrestling Federation. Other countries, like Liberia, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, are on the list to be visited before the end of the year.

He however appealed to government and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the Federation to enable it achieve it’s set objectives.

In his remarks, Patron of the Federation who also doubles as the National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Ambassador Samuel Ikpea described wrestling as a sports that has continued to entertain people and commended PWA for it’s achievements since it’s formation ten years ago.
Ikpea while charging the body to put modalities in place for organising quarterly championships appealed to sponsors to take interest in wrestling which is not only capable of creating employment for the youths but will also help to fight youth restiveness, crime and other social vices in the society.
Also speaking , Chairperson of Doors Youth Empowerment Initiative, Barrister Mrs. Efunronke Koku expressed happiness with the achievements of PWA under a decade of it’s formation just as she harped on the need for corporate Nigeria to identify with the sports.