Nigeria’s only boxer to the 2016 Olympics, Efe Ajagba and his coach Tony Konyegwachi compared their preparations and training at the National Stadium Boxing complex at Surulere, Lagos to a farmer doing his chores without a cutlass.
Ajagba disclosed that his aim at the Olympics is to win the gold, but training without key equipment is a major frustration.
“We don’t have facilities. We are just training with our own minds. There are no punching gloves, and modern punching bags, the one we have right now, if you punch it, it slips and you bump your shoulders on it.
“My weight category is very competitive and I have to be at my best. But I am watching videos of the boxers I am likely to meet and learning everyday. I am doing the same training given to me for the Commonwealth Games, Africa Games and the qualifiers for the Olympics,” said the super heavy-weight boxer.
Coach Konyegwachie added that apart from the lack of equipment, training was going on well.
“We are doing just fine even though it’s like we are training with bare hands. Ajagba being the only boxer going to the Olympics is also a blessing.
“This is because the concentration is on him unlike training 20 boxers. We have finished our first phase camping and are waiting for the training tour promised by the Sports Minister to give him the much needed exposure,” said Konyeghwachie.
Ajagba disclosed that his aim at the Olympics is to win the gold, but training without key equipment is a major frustration.
“We don’t have facilities. We are just training with our own minds. There are no punching gloves, and modern punching bags, the one we have right now, if you punch it, it slips and you bump your shoulders on it.
“My weight category is very competitive and I have to be at my best. But I am watching videos of the boxers I am likely to meet and learning everyday. I am doing the same training given to me for the Commonwealth Games, Africa Games and the qualifiers for the Olympics,” said the super heavy-weight boxer.
Coach Konyegwachie added that apart from the lack of equipment, training was going on well.
“We are doing just fine even though it’s like we are training with bare hands. Ajagba being the only boxer going to the Olympics is also a blessing.
“This is because the concentration is on him unlike training 20 boxers. We have finished our first phase camping and are waiting for the training tour promised by the Sports Minister to give him the much needed exposure,” said Konyeghwachie.
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