ABUJA – Nigerian boxers for the 2014 Commonwealth Games scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland said their proposed training tour of Cuba would help them to improve their overall performance.
The Captain of the Nigerian boxing team to the Games, Efetobor Apochi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the tour was a morale booster for them.
“It’s been long we went to Cuba for training and now we are going to Cuba for training tour. This is a big opportunity for every boxer to step up.
“Training in Nigeria all the time is not going to help because we have not got the equipment to facilitate the boxing techniques, skills and all that.
“All we do is strength-condition, we need to build the skills because in developed countries what they do is to develop the skills of boxing.
“Boxing is not all power; it’s a noble art of self-defence and there is this thing AIBA wants to see, not coming to kill or fight somebody.
“They want to see the beauty of the game and we don’t do that; Nigerian boxers are so raw.
“We have one way of boxing but going to Cuba for training tour, I think it’s going to do good to us. I am happy we are going to Cuba; it’s a big deal for us,’’ Apochi said.
Apochi, who is based in Mexico, said his knowledge of the Cuban and Mexican styles of boxing would propel the country at the Games.
“I have been in Mexico for about one year now; I just came into Nigeria for the Commonwealth Games and I am into World Series Boxing (WSB) and most of my team mates are from Cuba.
“I know their training programme; I know the Cuban style and I know how they box. I know most things about them.
“Cuba is a home of boxing and it’s going to help the boxers to develop,’’ he added.
NAN reports that the boxers are expected to depart for the Cuba training tour on Tuesday July 1.
They are also expected to move from Cuba to Glasgow, Scotland for the Games scheduled to start on July 23 and end on Aug. 3. (NAN)
