By George Ozalla
The Comptroller-General of Customs and President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Adewale Adeniyi, has urged members of the national wrestling team to aim for podium finishes as they prepare for the African Wrestling Championships scheduled for May in Alexandria, Egypt.
Adeniyi gave the charge when he hosted the athletes, coaches and officials at the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters in Abuja ahead of their departure, stressing that their selection to represent the country was both an honour and a serious responsibility.
He told the wrestlers that they were no longer competing as individuals from their respective states but as representatives of Nigeria, carrying the weight of national expectation. He urged them to be driven by the pride of hearing the national anthem at medal ceremonies and to make a firm commitment to return with honours.
Adeniyi noted that success at the continental level would depend on discipline, strategy and determination, expressing confidence in the technical crew for adequately preparing the athletes during training camp. He acknowledged the financial constraints faced by the federation but said efforts were made to ensure proper camping because of its importance to performance.
He assured the team that their welfare and motivation would remain a priority, leaving the responsibility of delivering results in their hands. He also encouraged the wrestlers to take advantage of the championship to earn national recognition through strong performances.
Commending the female wrestlers for their record as defending champions, Adeniyi challenged the male team to rise to the occasion and reinforce Nigeria’s standing in African wrestling.
Nigeria has sustained a strong presence on the continent in recent years, with the women’s team consistently finishing top at major championships held in Tunisia and Morocco.
Head coach Akuh Purity expressed appreciation for the support from the federation, assuring that the team would compete with determination and aim for victory. Athletes’ representatives Hannah Reuben and Ulabo Solomon also pledged the team’s readiness to justify the confidence placed in them and return with medals for the country.
