By Emma Njoku
London based former Nigerian and World Wrestling Champion, Morris Atula, also known as Golden Warrior, has declared his readiness to make Nigerian wrestlers rank among the best in the world if elected as the next president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF).
Atula, who was also a former Commonwealth Champion, recently got full backing of the Veteran Wrestlers Association ahead the forthcoming federation election.
“I quite accept the backing from Veteran Wrestlers Association of Nigeria being my immediate constituency. Its high time round pegs are fixed in round holes in Nigerian sports. The right results must come if quality ex-wrestlers and other sound individuals are elected into the next board of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation,” Atula, who is currently the Edo State Wrestling Association chairman, said.
He added: “Only quality ex-wrestlers can make Nigerian wrestlers emerge as world bests in various categories. I have the solution to our wrestling problems; hence the National Sports Commission (NSC) should encourage veterans to be at the forefront. We (NWF) would encourage regular zonal and interstate wrestling championships towards discovering and nurturing of young and talented wrestlers.
“Should our dream board get elected, there must be a very sound technical director and department to radically facilitate our projection of raising world champions regularly. We will fully get sports loving corporate organisations and individuals to be prominent in sponsorship of wrestling programmes and provision of wrestling mats in all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja”.
Atula hinted at his readiness to relocate to Nigeria if he emerges as the NWF president. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for returning the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“Big thanks to our dear President. It was the NSC, under quality administrators, that produced great wrestlers and other sports champions. It’s so good to have a seasoned Shehu Dikko as the head of NSC. The better days are here again for Nigerian sports”.