24th September, 2012
If he has his way, a London-based boxer, Ben Falaja, has declared his wish to don Nigeria’s colours whenever he is given the opportunity.
Falaja represented Repton Boxing Club of London at the just concluded Lagos ABA Versus Repton Boys Club of London International Boxing Tournament, which the grand finale was held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Though Falaja lost his first fight to Christian Abua of LABA in the first leg of the championship held on Thursday at the Grand Ballroom of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, the hard-fighting boxer outpunched Ganiu Hammed of LABA in the 69kg in the second leg of the annual tourney.
In a chat with P.M. News, Falaja said that he is ready to answer the national call whenever he is needed. “I am ready to represent Nigeria whenever my services are needed. I’m looking forward to this with excitement because this is my fatherland. I couldn’t make it to camp when the country was preparing for the London Olympics because I have other things that I’m doing aside from being a boxer. I am a qaulified boxing coach in England and I am also an engineer,” said Falaja.
However, his father, Abayomi Falaja who was by the ringside to give the younger Falaja a moral support appealed to appropriate authorities to give his son the opportunity to represent Nigeria.
—Bimbo Ajayi