Anthony Konyegwachie, a former Olympian and the national boxing coach, has voiced his apprehensions regarding the adequacy of preparations for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Despite the success of the team at the African Games in Ghana, where three boxers secured Olympic qualification, Konyegwachie highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian boxers, particularly in securing funding and sponsorship for training and participation in qualifiers.
“Before the African Games, I had three boxers already qualified for the Olympics through the African Olympic qualifier.
Now, we have three qualifiers, but one more boxer still needs to participate in a qualifying tournament in Thailand,” Konyegwachi explained.
He expressed hope that sufficient funds would be available to facilitate the boxer’s participation in the upcoming qualifier.
However, Konyegwachie lamented the lack of sponsorship and financial support for Nigerian boxers, stating that the Ministry of Sports remains their primary sponsor.
“Our only sponsor is the Ministry of Sports,” he noted. “At times, there is a lack of funding to support our participation in competitions, except for major events like the African Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympic Games.”
The former Olympian underscored the significant challenges faced by Nigerian boxers in accessing adequate funding for competitions beyond major international events.
He emphasized the need for greater financial support and sponsorship to ensure that Nigerian boxers can effectively prepare and compete on the global stage.
