Nigeria   -  Wrestling in the NEWS                   

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Nigerian wrestlers can rule the world–Achuba

Francis AJUONUMA, Daily Champion - Thursday, August 4, 2005

FOLLOWING the impressive performance of Nigerian wrestlers at the just concluded Commonwealth Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF) first vice-president, Honourable Simon Achuba, is optimistic that Nigeria will record a gold medal haul at the World Championships which holds next month in Canada.

Achuba told Sporting Champion that with adequate training programme and preparations, Nigerian wrestles have what it takes to rule the world.

"If our wrestlers can win silver medals at the Commonwealth Championships that featured great amateur wrestling countries like Canada, India, Britain and South Africa without any serious training programmes, it shows they have the capability to win gold medals at the World Championships if given adequate preparations," he said.

Achuba who expressed NAWF’s determination to uplift amateur wrestling in the country, assured that the federation will make sure that Nigeria features the best at the World Championships.

"NAWF’s target at the World Championships is to win gold medals. So, we’ll make sure that only the best represent the nation.

"The federation will also ensure that the wrestlers are adequately prepared for the World Championships because they will be facing the best in the world," he said.

The Kogi State House of Assembly member, however, called on corporate organisations and individuals to support the federation to realise its dream.

"We need the support of Nigerians and corporate bodies to achieve results," he pleaded.

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NOC Honours Wrestlers

Daily Champion (Lagos)

July 8, 2005

Posted to the web July 8, 2005

Francis Ajuonuma

Lagos

THE Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has honoured four Nigerian Wrestlers for making the nation proud at the just concluded Commonwealth Championship held in Cape Town, South Africa.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NOC, Tony Nezianya, who was at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday to welcome the wrestlers on behalf of NOC decorated the four wrestlers - Sammy Oziti, God'swill Tiebiri, Franklin Ezem and Jessy Fred with NOC pins as a mark of honour and appreciation for their efforts.

"This is a token of our appreciation for making the nation proud. We hope to witness better performance from you in future meets," Nezianya told the wrestlers during a mini-presentation ceremony at the airport.

Speaking earlier, the first Vice President of the Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF), Honourable Simon Achuba lauded the performance of the Nigerian team despite the short time they had to prepare for the championship which featured about 20 Commonwealth countries.

"We're satisfied with their performance. For the fact that it was impromptu kind of journey yet we've been able to get something. I believe we'll do better in future competitions", he said.

Honourable Achuba however expressed strong determination of the present board of the wrestling federation to move amateur wrestling in Nigeria to the next level even as he identified lack of sponsorship as affecting sports development in the country.

"This is a new beginning for wrestling in Nigeria. This board is determined to make Nigeria a force to reckon with in amateur wrestling at the international and continental levels.

 

"But we need the support of well meaning Nigerians and the private sector to achieve our dream," he added.

Nigeria placed seventh on the overall medal table with two silver medals won by Oziti in the female freestyle 51kg category and Tiebiri in the men Creco-Roman 55kg category. India came first ahead of South Africa and Canada respectively

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Vanguard (Lagos)

Posted to the web May 12, 2004

Bayelsa Promises More Igalis in Wrestling

Solomon Nwoke

Abuja

AFTER his wrestlers garnered two gold, two silver and four bronze medals in the Greco Romans style of wrestling, the Deputy director of sports in Bayelsa, Chief P.O.Allen Obebe-Orukari was beaming with smiles that his wrestlers would top the medal table of the event at the end of the festival.

Chief Obebe-Orukari whose dream was to clean out all the available medals in the Greco Romans blamed the weather for their performance in the game.

He was however impressed with the achievement so far recorded by the wrestlers boasting that Bayelsa State would give the country more of Daniel Igali from the crop of wrestlers in their fold .

He said," I'm impressed with the standard of the championship, but not so much impressed with our team. We are hoping to get more than we got , but unfortunately some of our wrestlers took ill.

That is the end of Greco Romans wrestling, we have to share the medals with other states because we are not the only state here.

We would have done better but, because of the atmosphere here which is not conducive to most of them. Again, I want to tell you that from the bunch of wrestlers I brought here, we are sure of giving Nigeria more of Daniel Igalis. We are certainly going to be the winner of this championship at the end of the day. Free style of wrestluing which is our main strong hold has not started.

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Aug. 5 /2002... Igali is a perfect 10  ( Commonwealth Games article)

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Daniel Igali Sets Up Foundation

April 4, 2002
Posted to the web April 4, 2002

Niran Adesanya
Lagos

Aside plans to build a school in his hometown, Eniwari in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria-born Canadian wrestler, Daniel Igali, has announced plans to establish a sports foundation in his adopted country, Canada.   Igali, who is expected in Nigeria next month for the foundation-laying programme of the proposed school in his hometown, has already initiated moves to register the Daniel Igali Foundation in Canada with international offices in Yenagoa and Lagos.

According to Igali's media co-ordinator in Nigeria, Bode Ayodele, the foundation, which has a bias for sports, "will be geared towards raising funds for the wrestler's numerous humanitarian projects.  "Igali knows what it is like to be deprived, hence his desire to help those in need." He confirmed that the Olympic gold medallist is billed to arrive Nigeria in company of a Canada-based building construction engineer who will supervise the building of the school in Eniwari.

Ayodele further disclosed that over $20,000 has been raised for the project so far from Canadian companies with Igali himself promising to raise an additional $20,000 for the foundation before his arrival in Nigeria. He stated that the fund-raising drive in Canada is being championed by school children with an 11 year-old school boy, Ryan Hyrljac separately raising funds to sink a borehole in the school being proposed in Nigeria.

Igali, it would be recalled, left the shores of Nigeria in 1994 before taking up Canadian citizenship two years later. Since becoming a Canadian citizen, Igali has gone ahead to become a four-time Canadian champion and two-time athlete of the year in addition to becoming the first man in Canadian history to win a gold medal in wrestling at the world championship and the Olympic Games.

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The Story of Nigeria's Gift to Canada

OPINION
October 21, 2000
Posted to the web October 21, 2000

  Full name: Baraladei Daniel Igali

Place of Birth: Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Date of Birth: 3rd Feb. 1974 (Aquarius)

Favorite Food: Chicken and rice

I grew up with my grand mother as I was very young when my parents went to study in England on scholarships. I still call my grand mother, mum to this day and call my mother, momsy. My childhood was split between the village (Eniwari Town) and the city (Port Harcourt) in Nigeria.

I cannot pinpoint when I started wrestling. In my tribe, the Ijaw tribe in Nigeria, wrestling is part of our culture, like hockey is to Canada. I therefore grew up knowing how to wrestle. Although in Nigeria, it was a traditional Nigerian folk style of wrestling. All one needs is to get a take down and the match is over.

I grew up among five girls, (I have five other sisters by my mother) and a variety of other brothers and sisters. There are 21 children at the moment (a complete soccer team with reserves if you include my mothers and father). I therefore did not have a shortage of wrestling partners and was notorious for having a different school uniform every month as I was always wrestling around and getting my uniforms torn.

I did not start freestyle wrestling until 1990, which also happened to be my first national championships. Nigeria is a poor country which does not have age group competitions, so my first tournament at 16 years of age was the senior national tournament. I was fortunate enough to win it on my first try and got a job as a wrestler at Plateau state in the northern part of Nigeria. Meanwhile my (JAMB) university entrance examination results went well and I went on to enter Mass Communications. But at the time, school was not my number one priority. Instead, I wanted to pursue my wrestling dreams and solidify myself as one of the best wrestlers in Nigeria. As you can imagine, my decision caused a few problems with my parents, but we were able to work out the difference so that I could continue to wrestle. I competed in my first African Championships in 1993 (Pretoria, South Africa) and became the African Champion at 62 kg. the following year in Cairo, Egypt.

While being an African Champion was nice, my wrestling didn't really take off until I came to Canada in 1994 for the Commonwealth Games (where I finished 11th overall). The political situation in Nigeria was very volatile and my aims of studying along side sports were becoming impossible. So after the Games, I decided to stay in Canada. Tom Murphy was my first Canadian host and was able to help me get settled. I was later introduced to Dave Mckay at Douglas College, and subsequently to Mike Jones at Simon Fraser University and a partnership evolved. In three years at Simon Fraser University, I won 116 matches without a loss. I'm fortunate to have two of the best coaches in the world!

The turning point in my career came after I lost to Terry Steiner in the final match of the 1996 Clansman international tournament. I was leading 7-1 with less than a minute to go and ended up giving up six points and lost the match in over time. After this match, I vowed never to be embarrassed in that way again. With the help of my coaches I immediately changed my training regimen and went on to place 4th at the 1998 World Championships in Tehran, Iran.

I also placed second at the 1998 World cup (which till today I believe I won), and later became the world champion in Ankara, Turkey. My Olympic stage is set, and I'm working hard to be the next Olympic Champion. However, it is going to be a tough road, but I believe the gods are on my side.

My hobbies include, Kabaddi (a traditional Indian sport), watching wrestling movies, soccer and surfing the Net. My greatest inspiration is my host mother, Maureen Matheny, who died of cancer five days after I won the World Championship. I have a lot of respect for her and she'll continue to be one my greatest inspirations. She, like the gods, will be with me in Sydney.