Nigeria’s most successful boxing coach, Tony Konyegwachie (pictured in the ring seconding one of his boxers), has now set his sights on winning Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Buoyed by Nigeria’s major achievement of winning eight gold and two silver medals in the Africa Games in Accra, Konyegwachie said he’s capable of becoming Nigeria’s first coach to bring home an Olympic gold medal.
Konyegwachie, a former international boxer, said he has a strong balanced team capable of shaking the world.
Nigeria emerged overall winners in Accra with eight gold – five by female boxers and three by male boxers – to stamp their authority as one of Africa’s boxing giants. Morocco were the Elite Africa Championships winners.
In a statement he shared with AFBC Communications, Konyegwachie said: “I’m very proud of our boxers’ performance, it’s historic achievement, we prepared thoroughly for it and believed in ourselves also.
“No other country has entered 10 boxers in the finals of the Africa Games but we did it. It’s not easy to win eight gold and two silver medals. I believe we are going to bring back gold in the forthcoming Olympic Games in Paris.”
Nigeria equalled Kenya’s feat of winning eight gold medals at the 1987 Africa Games in Nairobi. Kenya retained the Africa Games overall crown with eight gold and two bronze medals.
Coincidentally, Konyegwachie was in Nigeria’s boxing team for the 1987 African Games in Nairobi but did not participate because he was overweight. Kenya’s staple food, ugali, took it’s toll on him, apparently.
Credit: AFBC Communications
