Adeoti Mosun Olayinka a boxing coach and international official, shared insights into her experiences and reflections at the final of the boxing competition at the African Games.
Expressing her impressions of the African Games this year, Olayinka acknowledged the overall positive aspects of the event’s organization and arrangements in an exclusive interview with Sports 247.
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While noting some minor lapses, she commended the preparations and accommodations, highlighting improvements compared to previous editions.
“I think I would say it’s not bad, though. I was in Rabat in 2019, but probably because we were unable to see most of the things that went on. But I think the preparations, the arrangement, the accommodations, everything is spot on.”
Reflecting on the challenges faced in the boxing competition in its early stage, particularly regarding officiating, Olayinka lamented a controversial bout that resulted in a loss for her team.
Despite this setback, she noted a positive shift in officiating standards as the tournament progressed, expressing confidence in the review process.
“They were not entirely bad, though there are little lapses here and there, but you can’t omit that in so many competitions.
And when you talk about boxing at the beginning, we had some problems because there was a controversial bout against us and it was so, so painful because it was very obvious that we won that bout.”
“But unfortunately, the bout wasn’t reversed. We got an apology that it is gone, and that is one bout that we’ve lost of the eleven boxers that we brought to this tournament.
And after then, I believe things started changing, I think the officiating, I’m sure they will have cautioned them when they get back to the IT rooms and the reviews are going on perfectly.”
Addressing the issue of female empowerment in a predominantly male coaching environment, Olayinka emphasized the importance of strong leadership and collaboration among coaches.
Despite facing challenges and inequality, she asserted her resilience and commitment to championing women’s interests in sports.
Olayinka highlighted the diversity of coaching styles within her team and stressed the collective effort needed to achieve success.
With a calm demeanour and unwavering determination, she affirmed her belief in the potential of female athletes to excel, particularly targeting success at the Olympics.
However, Olayinka emphasized the need for greater support and resources to facilitate better preparation for athletes, expressing optimism for improved results in future events with adequate backing.
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