The Nigerian Veteran Wrestlers Association (NVWA), has promised to support Moses Atula, a former world light heavyweight champion for the position of president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation .
The veteran wrestlers stated this in a statement by Atula, the Chairman of NVWA on Sunday in Akwa.
It expressed confident that Atula, who is the chairman of Edo Wrestling Association is the man to drive the desired change in Nigerian wrestling.
The association said that the presidency of NWF must not be given to a non wrestler.
“We believe that having a competent, technocrat, an ex wrestler in charge of wrestling in Nigeria will boost the game and create more opportunities for the younger generation.
“We are confident that Atula, an ex international who has lived his entire life as a wrestler, coach, administrator is the most suitable to take over as President of NWF.
“He has hosted cadet championships for four consecutive years, provided cash prizes for winners and also sponsored cadet athletes,” they said
The association called for the revival of grassroots wrestling and involvement of core professionals in the administration of the sports in Nigeria.
It lamented the collapse of wrestling and non organisation of competition at the state and regional leve.
The association said that the technical director of NWF should be one who has knowledge about wrestling and understand the core areas of the sport.
The veterans said veteran wrestlers with experiences such as coaching, administration and promotion, should be brought on board to guarantee development of the sport.
“We expect that there should be grassroots wrestling in all the states but we have not had it for about 12 years.
“We have Zonal representatives but no zonal championship because most of those in the zones do not know what to do.
“For 16 years the federation has a technical director that has no knowledge about wrestling
“National Wrestling Championship should be rotated around the geopolitical zones and states, and not limited to one state as we have had in the past 12 year.
“Most states do not have basic wrestling equipment like the wrestling mat, if you do not have wrestling mat how will they train their athletes.
“We know that the International Federation provides wrestling mats to the National Federations to help develop wrestling at the grassroots, we did not know what happened to the Nigerian situation.
“These things should be changed and that is why the veterans are calling on Maurice Atula to contest and take charge as the president of the Nigeria wrestling Federation.,” they said.
The association called on the Federal Government to fund wrestling from the preparation stage to the competition proper.
It also called on the private sector and philanthropists to help develop the sport.(NAN)
