24th September, 2010
As the Nigerian boxers representing the country at the Commonwealth Games arrive Lagos today, there are indications that the team may not do well in the pugilist sport at the championship holding in Delhi, India.
This speculation is based on the alleged bad treatment of the boxers by National Sports Commission, NSC.
Information reaching Boxing In Focus revealed that the boxers were not motivated by the NSC, the body in charge of their preparations for the Games, which commences on 3 October.
Some of the boxers and coaches, who spoke on anonymity, said they had high expectations that they were going to be rewarded well by the NSC but their hopes were dashed.
The boxers, who had been in camp in Edo State, said when they arrived camp they were promised heaven and earth by the NSC but it was gathered that the boxers were only given stipends.
One of the boxers, who campaigns in the Lightweight category, carpeted the NSC for raising their hopes when the camp opened only for the authority to turn its back when it was time to pay them their dues (camp allowance).
The boxer, who had represented Nigeria at an international boxing competition, faulted the NSC for not making good its promises of paying them in foreign currency, since they could not embark on a training tour of Europe. He noted that a country that wants to do well in international boxing competitions won’t treat her boxers that way.
“When we commenced camping a few months ago, the NSC told us that we were going for a training tour of Europe. We were happy, believing that the tour would give us the opportunity to learn from our counterparts abroad. Even though it was suddenly called off, we were not worried because we believed we would still get our allowance, but we were wrong. The NSC only gave us N1,500,which didn’t go down well with most of us,” said the boxer, who still has high hopes of returning to the country with a medal after the Games
Another boxer, who expressed anger over the bad treatment they received from the NSC, hinted that their morals are already down.
“The NSC is not helping matter at all. The officials cut down our camp allowance, after  promising us everything on earth. We just woke up one day in the camp and were told that no more Europe tour, but we were not disturbed. We agreed, expecting that we would receive our dues from the NSC, we were wrong. They only gave us N1,500 for our camp allowance,†the boxer said.