By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
NIGERIA ON Friday night at the 4th African Youth Games in Luanda Angola rekindled her hopes to get back from her boxing stupor to again dominate African professional and amateur boxing as in the days of yore when she clinched two wonderful Gold medals from two of her three entries at the games.
Only Nigerian female entry at the games, Ayomide Shakirat Mayowa caused the sleeping volcano of the Nigerian boxing confraternity to erupt with high praises when she won the first gold for Nigeria from the Blue Corner in a split decision over Bensallah Bouthenia of Algeria in the 46-48kg Women’s class.
Boxing Coaches, veteran Boxers, boxing officials as well as Judges and Referees celebrated Ayomide stylishly on their WhatsApp platform waiting for her return to Nigeria to pop up wine.
Ayomide was discovered from childhood by Yucateco, a Boxing Group that up till now goes from state to state to hunt for boxing talents in Nigeria founded by now NBBF Vice President, Hon. Omalie Yakubu Imadu. Ayomide’s father, Mr. Mayowa is currently a well-known Boxing Coach in Nigeria.
A veteran sports Journalist and former Group Sports Editor who we both covered many sporting event in the 70s and 80s, Ade Somefun had sent a worrisome signal to me from the land of the seven hills called Ibadan in Oyo State of Nigeria expressing fear that the fine baby face of Ayomide used as cover photo of our report on the semifinals may be defaced by wicked opponents and I replied him Hakuna Matata for Shaki (another name of Ayomide) is a no shaking girl feared in the squared ropes.
Ade Somefun in his fear of Ayomide’s beautiful face had made me remember former ECN; Stationery Stores and Green Eagles Forward, Peter Baby Face Anieke who was a dribbling wizard in the class of Maradona, of Argentina, strong and reliable in his football days.
Star boy Abijuwon Olalekan Farouq did not throw a punch to win the gold in 40-50Kg Men;s Category as he gained a walk over on Bofenda Mabela of the Democratic Republic of Congo who was over weighed and it is against the rules in the games to be so discovered and allowed to fight.
Farouq had in May this year won Gold for Team Lagos at the 22nd National Sports Festival at the Ijeja Stadium, Abeokuta in a brilliant way after which he told the Media that his dream is to one day win an Olympic Gold for Nigeria and his victory in Luanda on Tuesday night has become a path to the fulfillment of that dream.
A haul of the Gold medal in Luanda has automatically qualified him and Ayomide for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October to November 2026 in Dakar, Senegal.
Joshua Solomon had on Thursday lost his semifinal bout to Wisdom Pedro of Angola by a split decision in the 70 kg class making him earn a bronze medal for Nigeria.
15 year old Richardson Ofori of Accra Royal JHS also won the Gold in the 55Kg for Men without throwing a punch as his opponent Kolomso Kakesus of Angola failed to make his weight.
Patmos Media learnt that the Host nation tried to bend the rules for Kolomso to shed some weights, but Team Ghana resisted the moves.
The Games proper will officially end today Saturday 20th of December.
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