Olympics: Nigeria's Chances of Winning Medals in Boxing Slim - Okorodudu

Okorodudu asserted in an interview in Lagos that the boxers selected to represent the country lacked the requisite

experience.
 
``They are talented boxers with prospects. However, I do not expect a medal from boxing because they are fresh from

the block, boxers that still need exposure.
 
``It will take a lot of guts in the boxers to stand in the ring with the mammoth crowd that will sit at the

ringside and the lights focused on them to concentrate on the match.
 
``I don’t see the Nigerian boxers having this characteristic,” he said.
 
However, he wished them the best of luck and prayed that they made the country proud.
 
Akanji Olalekan, 75kg, Lawal Olayiwola 81kg, and Ogoke Agu, 75kg, the only female, will represent Nigeria in boxing

at the Games.
 
The former boxer also decried the manner in which the Nigeria Olympian Association (NOA) was being run, alleging

that it was without a constitution.
 
Okorodudu claimed that the NOA was being run undemocratically and urged its president  to correct the anomaly.
 
``When Henry Amike, the president of the association, returns from the Olympics we will get some lawyers to help

draw up a constitution for the association.
 
``Because without a precise structure, the association cannot be self-governing,” he said.
 
The Olympian further said that the death of Sunday Bada, the former secretary of the association, had left the

position vacant.
 
``Therefore, someone should be elected to fill the gap,’’ he said.
 
Okorodudu also made a case for the government to cater for the welfare of the Olympians, thereby recognising their

contributions to the country.
 
``I believe we the Olympians are not up to a 1000 people, therefore we could be absorbed into the pension scheme so

that we would know we are remembered,” he said.