Atula receives massive boost for NWF presidency

Posted : 21 October 2024

The Nigerian Veteran Wrestlers Association (NVWA) has promised to support Moses Atula, a former world light heavyweight champion, for the position of president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.

The veteran wrestlers made this known in a statement by Atula, the Chairman of NVWA, on Monday in Akwa.

They expressed confidence that Atula, who is also the Chairman of the Edo Wrestling Association, is the right person to drive the desired change in Nigerian wrestling.

The association emphasized that the presidency of the NWF must not be given to a non-wrestler.

“We believe that having a competent technocrat, an ex-wrestler, in charge of wrestling in Nigeria will boost the game and create more opportunities for the younger generation.

“We are confident that Atula, an ex-international who has spent his entire life as a wrestler, coach, and administrator, is the most suitable candidate to take over as President of the NWF.

“He has hosted cadet championships for four consecutive years, provided cash prizes for winners, and sponsored cadet athletes,” they said.

The association called for the revival of grassroots wrestling and the involvement of core professionals in the administration of the sport in Nigeria.

They lamented the collapse of wrestling and the lack of competitions at the state and regional levels.

The association also stated that the technical director of the NWF should be someone with knowledge of wrestling who understands the core areas of the sport.

The veterans stressed that veteran wrestlers with experience in coaching, administration, and promotion should be brought on board to ensure the development of the sport.

“We expect that there should be grassroots wrestling in all the states, but we have not had it for about 12 years.

“We have zonal representatives, but no zonal championship because most of those in the zones do not know what to do.

“For 16 years, the federation has had a technical director who has no knowledge of wrestling.

“The National Wrestling Championship should be rotated around the geopolitical zones and states, and not limited to one state as we have seen in the past 12 years.

“Most states do not have basic wrestling equipment like the wrestling mat. Without a wrestling mat, how will they train their athletes?

“We know that the International Federation provides wrestling mats to the National Federations to help develop wrestling at the grassroots, but we do not know what happened in the Nigerian situation.

“These things should be changed, and that is why the veterans are calling on Moses Atula to contest and take charge as the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation,” they said.

The association called on the Federal Government to fund wrestling from the preparation stage to the competition proper.

It also urged the private sector and philanthropists to help develop the sport.

Atula receives massive boost for NWF presidency

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