Wrestling: Power Lee Laments; Over State Of Nigerian Wrestling
Current Nigerian heavyweight champion, Godspower Ekpede a.k.a Power Lee, is worried about the poor state of wrestling in the country.
Power Lee, who is also the incumbent Nigerian Wrestling Board of Control, heavyweight champion, told P.M.Sports that wrestling, a traditional sport, which has been a delight of the people at the grassroots, is not popular again.
“It’s unfortunate that wrestlers are toiling day and night to train, but there is no tournament. The environment is not conducive for us to practise again unlike in the olden days,†Power Lee, who hails from Isoko area of Delta State, said.
“It is hard to get sponsors for some of the championship being promoted by wrestlers themselves, while the Nigerian Wrestling Board of Control, is handicapped to bail out the game from its present predicament. I believe the country’s economic problem is affecting the development of wrestling,†said the wrestler who has been in the sport since 1987.
Power Lee, however, said that despite the bad situation, he won’t seek greener pastures abroad. “I believe it is here in Nigeria that I will make it. Nigeria is a blessed nation, it is just a matter of time, and things will come back to normal,†he said.
Power Lee said that he is looking forward to taking his career to the next level in the New Year. “I train everyday to keep fit, and I believe 2011 will be a great year for me. I’m looking forward to featuring in the Intercontinental Wrestling Championship, the BRF Wrestlemania, which will be staged in Lagos soon. I learnt that some foreign wrestlers will take part in the tourney. I’ll be very glad if I get the chance to feature in the championship, at least it will give me the opportunity to prove myself. I pray that many other competitions of international standard will come my way this year,†he said.
Power Lee, who is also nicknamed Mr. Peace, said he was inspired by the likes of Mil Mascaras and Tony Atlas when he was young. “I was inspired to become a wrestler by Mascaras and Tony Atlas. I loved watching them with their muscular build up on television. I used to tell myself then that I’ll become a world champion like one of them someday.
— Taiwo Adelu
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