Lagos – Afolabi Bamidele, a gold medallist in Boxing at the 2015 “Ibile Games’’ has urged parents to support their children to participate in sporting activities, as a way to boost their morale.
Bamidele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that such support had been the source of his inspiration and success in boxing.
The 17-year-old boxer from the Iganmu Senior High School, Orile-Iganmu, appreciated his parents for providing him the necessary kits for training activities.
“If parents want their children to be successful in life through academics and sports, it is important that they support us to build confidence.
“When I started boxing, my father supported me to the extent of buying me gloves and he also provided me with bodyguards.
“Also, he made it a habit to take me to my training programmes most of the time.
“My mother made sure that I fed well and they even come to watch me whenever I had a contest and that showed that they were solidly behind me,’’ he said.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
A boxing coach, Adegboyega Adeniji-Adele, said that the future was bright for young boxers who enjoyed the support of their parents.
He also called for regular competitions in the schools, to further motivate upcoming boxers.
Adeniji-Adele said that boxing was good for the youths, stressing that it helped to discipline and provide them with the ability to be able to protect themselves during any physical attack.
“The focus should be on the young ones, especially those in schools, by way of organising competitions for them to exhibit their skills.
“Their parents should also be brought in, to be a source of motivation for young boxers.
“Boxing is also a recommendable sport because it disciplines the practitioners and tames them on how to behave, as well as being able to defend themselves whenever the need arises,’’ he said.
Prince Nwoye, a national boxer, also called for more attention on the welfare of the young boxers, noting that they should be rewarded when they excelled in contests.
Nwoye suggested camping for young boxers during school vacations, to provide a better atmosphere to impact on the ethics of the sport. (NAN)
