Ex International Boxer Mazi Ikechukwu Okoronkwo has condemned in its entirety the decision by some states coaches at the ongoing 2024 National Under 15 Youth Games in Asaba to hire already trained athletes to represent their states.
Speaking with Hanto Daily News in Asaba after visiting Enugu State camp to monitor how the boxing contingent was faring, Mazi Okoronkwo lamented that the hiring of already trained athletes by such coaches has really defeated the aim of the competition which is to raise Grassroots talents.
He therefore called on state Governors to investigate why their states were being represented by people from outside their states who never even participated in the preliminary stages of the local competitions.
The Ex – International Boxer who was the Coordinator of the recently concluded Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly Grassroots boxing tournament described it as outright sabotage for government employed administrators and coaches to abandon the real grassroots sports development for pecuniary interest, pointing out that the unholy act is an affront to federal Government’s policy on youths grassroot sports development .
Mazi Okoronkwo who is also the Sports Ambassador Boxing assertion, revealed that it is clear that many State Governments released money for the development of their talented youths from the grassroots and requested a probe into the utilization of the funds
He however expressed delight that Boxers from Enugu State who were discovered in the state and taken to the tournament are marvellously performing and called on other South East States to emulate the Enugu example which was recorded after professional insistence.
