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Despite The Odds, Bash Ali Resolute To Rewrite Boxing History Remains Unchanged

The African Boxing Ambassador, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, has become a household name in the world of boxing due to his tall ambition to make a name for himself as the oldest man to achieve two things in one night; win the Guinness World Record as the oldest man to step into a boxing ring and if he wins the fight, as the oldest man to win a world boxing title. Not only this, he would have put the name of Nigeria once again in the world record book.

The World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion turned 67 last February 27.

To Bash Ali, as he is fondly called by his teeming admirers who cut across all shades of life, and dreams, they say hardly die. It is not for fun that 17 years ago, his dream of becoming the Guinness World Record Boxing Champion refused to die.

Many have given up on their dreams or even died with them, however, for Bash Ali, the man has remained on course until the mark is made.

There are many doubting Thomases, who have dismissed this dream with a wave of the hand, wondering if he wants to kill himself in the adventure.

Those who want to listen to themselves speak on the initiative, would prefer he is stopped in his tracks.

Being a man of conviction that Bash is, he has said: “I know that many people give up on their dreams and die with it, but I am an extraordinary man.

“I will accomplish my dream and continue to fight till I am 70 years old, retire young and healthy with a lot of money and then go into politics and become the President of Nigeria.”

Many think he is on the path of damnation. But they do not know he has always been convinced beyond reasonable doubt of his capacity, capability and holding power in the game.

He has never given up on his dream, and neither has he ever gioven up on Nigeria. His implicit faith in his capacity has never been in doubt; and that has remained incontrovertible.

It is annoying, some Nigerians have regrettably curious opponents of anything good. They are supposed to support his ambition but are strongly against it.

If Bash Ali were to be a white man living in the West, his dream and ambition would have seen the light of the day, despite the assertion of those against the dream.

Bash Ali with Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria

Older persons desirous of fulfilling an ambition in the west and other saner climes would have been supported without a second thought in order to rewrite boxing history.

Today, we are where we are and perhaps more shameful that dreams are hardly pursued on account of what people would say.

For those who do not believe, Champion Bash Ali will surely shock the world by rewriting boxing history and making all his fiercest critics his most adored disciples.

You may do well to mark these words and get ready to be part of boxing history in the making. This has been a goal.

The initiative, if anyone cares to know has been privately driven. The Federal Government of Nigeria has never given a kobo since Champion Bash Ali embarked on the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship Fight initiative.

Rather, he has spent billions of Naira of personal money. Anyone who doubts it is free to cross-check.

We thought Bash Ali needed to be commended not condemned. But the choice is all yours to act. You can bet against him on the fight night, but we dare say you will lose your money because he is going to win.

The fact that Champion Bash Ali has continued to meet senior government officials and other critical stakeholders is to let the world know that he is able to do it and create history on his side.

The meeting was a moment for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) Cruiserweight champion, Bash Ali to inform the government that the proposed Guinness World Record Boxing Championship which is scheduled to be held for the first time on African soil, outside the United States is possible.

If you feel not perpetrated to the cause, there is something hanging out in the air: A chance to make history and place Nigeria’s Bash Ali in the Guinness World Record beckons.

He is encouraged. It is on the way!

Bash Ali began his boxing career in September 1978 and never fought as an amateur. He is the only boxer in the world to win every cruiserweight title conceivable.

Bash Ali’s last fight was in 2004 when he knocked out the then-British cruiserweight champion, Tony Booth, in the fourth round. It is on record that in 1985, Bash Ali made history as the first cruiserweight boxing champion from the African continent.

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NDDC committed to developing athletes discovered at Niger Delta Sports Festival

A new approach to grassroots sports development will see athletes discovered at the ongoing Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) undergo periodical camping where scientific methods of training would be applied.

Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the festival, dropped the hint at a media parley with journalists covering the games and said over 60 athletes have already been spotted as at Day 4.

“This festival is not about who came first or who won gold. Our scouts are looking out for hints of potential, quality that can be groomed for future success,” Ikpokpo responded to a question about objectives of the festival.

He said the scouts made up of coaches, former athletes and scouts have so far submitted 64 names and most of them were not those that came first or second.

“We seek to set up camps for the identified athletes with a view to putting them through scientific research-based training supervised by certified coaches,” added Ikpokpo who is the lead consultant for the project.

“The real work is not this festival, it is to design and implement the plan to nurture the talents discovered here to go on and replace those who have been representing Nigeria,” he added.

Sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as part of its mandate to improve living conditions of people of the nine mandate states, the NDSF had about 3,000 athletes and 500 officials competing in 17 sports.

It began on April 1 and will end on April 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

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Niger Delta Sports Festival holds Golf Kitty as Cultural Expo fever spreads in Uyo

Managing Consultant of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, teed off the Golf Kitty organised in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This is even as the organisers rev up preparations for the Cultural Expo with the stage being rigged and rehearsals commenced.

Held at the Ibom Golf and Country Club on Saturday (April 5) morning, on the sidelines of the sports competitions, the event is part of the community engagement activities of the festival to foster social networking.

Over 130 golfers were in the kitty with members of the Main and Local Organising Committees of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in attendance.

“The NDSF project sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was designed to achieve multipurpose objectives of discovering and nurturing athletes, foster regional integration and engaging our host community.

“We have also provided opportunity for games demonstration towards bringing them in when the next edition holds. Cricket and Rugby are such games and we will keep redesigning the festival concept to accommodate more sports”, Ikpokpo told journalists at the event.

The festival also incorporated a Cultural Expo that will hold on April 7 and a number of upcoming entertainers from the nine mandate states will be on parade for comedy, music and masters of ceremony.

Edi Lawani, the country’s leading entertainment impresario said the Cultural Expo is a community engagement platform to provide the people of Akwa Ibom State, the festival community and tourists a time to wind down.

“Over 40 artistes will be on parade as we provide music, comedy, dance and food court for everyone in Uyo to feel the sports festival atmosphere outside the competition venues and make new social and business friends”, the thickly Lawani said donning his trademark shorts and backpack.

“Just as the NDSF is poised to discover new talents in sports, the cultural expo of the NDSF is equally designed to give a boost to and uplift young upcoming talents in the creative industry”, Lawani further stated.

Established talents like Comedian Destalker and singer Humblesmith are billed to perform to give inspiration and mentorship to the assembled young talents.

He said emphasis has also been placed on gender inclusiveness as there are female artistes, female Disc Jockeys and a female red-carpet host who are set take their place of pride at the event.

The Expo night which holds at the popular Unity Park also known as the Christmas Village, will enjoy the full complement of exotic show lighting display and large screen format projection.

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Govt Should Give Annual Grants To Nigerian Clubsides – Sanmi Doherty

Stakeholders of Nigerian football opined that governments at all levels should completely hands off sponsorship or ownership of football clubs in Nigeria.

According to some aficionados, the state-owned clubs have not thrived or perform better than privately owned clubs in recent times.

And yet, another strong voice in the fortunes of Nigerian football has joined the fray, albeit from a fresher angle.

Speaking in a recent interview, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ikorodu City Football club, Sanmi Doherty, admonished the federal government to establish a football trust fund that would empower the clubs to operate in line with the global best practices in world football. He added that Nigerian clubs would be able to compete favourably with their counterparts on the continent.

“I think government should only provide the facilities the enabling environment for the clubs. I think we can also have a trust fund fir Nigerian clubs. Tell me, why can’t the federal government earmark certain amounts of money as annual grants to help the clubs playing in the league?

“You know we’re not only promoting football, we’re also empowering the youths and using football to curb restiveness amongst the youths.

” Football is big business and capital intensive. For instance, if I know that I’m going to receive maybe N3billion from the government as my annual allocation, I can conveniently go for the best players, pay them very well, and ensure they get the conducive environment to ply their trades professionally and of course, the desired results will come,” the youthful club owner enthused confidently.