20th November, 2012
Two time goal medalist in the Lightweight category of boxing event of the National Sports Festival, Isaac Ekpo, who is the reigning National Lightweight champion, spoke to ADEBOBOLA ALAWODE about his travails as a boxer, and other issues bothering on the 18th National Sports Festival, NSF tagged ‘Eko 2012’.
Your fans have not been seeing you in the ring for a while, hope all is well?
It’s true that my fans in Nigeria have not seen me in the ring for a while, but my Ghanaian fans have been seeing much of Ekpo. The reason is that I’m now based in Ghana, so the Ghanaian fans see much of me unlike my fans in Nigeria. However, I want to apologise to my fans but it is not my making, they would get to see me box next month in Nigeria.
Why did you dump Nigeria for Ghana?
No, no, no, don’t get it wrong. I did not dump Nigeria; I’m still a Nigerian, I only went to Ghana to have a feel of what professional boxing is like there.
How will you rate professional boxing in Nigeria with what is obtainable in Ghana?
Professional boxing in Ghana is slightly the same with that of Nigeria, but for some differences in terms of promotions. Professional boxing promotion shows hold on a weekly basis in Ghana unlike in Nigeria, where there are few or no boxing shows for a long period.
Are you in the country for holiday?
I’m not in the country for holiday. I actually came into the country for a bout against an Algerian boxer. The fight is slated for the Eko Hotel and Suites in December.
What do you know about your opponent?
I have said it times without number that I don’t worry myself about my opponents because it may disturb my preparation. I will rather concentrate on my preparations because I don’t like troubling myself with the strength of my opponents.
Back to the home front, the 18th National Sports Festival is coming up later this month in Lagos State, and as a product of the festival, what is your expectation?
It is a good development and I must commend Lagos State for accepting to host the multi-sports events because hosting an event of such magnitude is not easy.
You represented Lagos and Edo states at the 2000 and 2002 editions of the Festival, where you won gold medals, how would you describe your experience?
The National Sports Festival is an experience that I would live to remember because it was not easy. So many boxers came out back then, but failed to reach the top. But, for me, I went, saw and conquered.
Now that Lagos is hosting, do you think the state can host and win the festival?
That is what I don’t like people saying, hosting to win should not be the reason behind the festival. But, the host states should look at ways of discovering talents that can help the country win medals in international competitions. The festival is meant to be a breeding ground for talents to be discovered, it is rather unfortunate that some states want to win it by poaching athletes from other states. Such action is retrogressive.
Would you say the festival has justified the idea it was conceived?
I would not like to comment on that because of reasons best known to me.
The festival is meant to produce stars that can help the country win laurels in international competitions, but some have argued otherwise?
Well, Nigerian officials now go abroad to invite athletes for international sports competitions. The festival is supposed to be a pool, where athletes are discovered for international competitions. It is quite unfortunate that our country hardly use the festival to unearth budding talents these days.
What is the way out then?
The way out is for the National Sports Commision, NSC and relevant sports federations to use the festival as an avenue to discover and nurture athletes to stardom. The states should also desist from poaching athletes from other states, and must know that financial inducement should not be used to lure athletes all because they want to win the Sports Festival.