Sports
Fans Laud Ultimate Commander For Reviving Wrestling
Wrestling fans in Lagos applauded the Africa Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, Osita Offor, aka De Ultimate Commander, for reviving professional wrestling in Nigeria.
In separate interviews with newsmen some of the thrilled fans said they enjoyed every minute of the fights at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, tagged “Gathering of Champions.’’.
The seven fights last weekend were a prelude to De Ultimate Commander’s World Heavyweight Wrestling title defence against Shelton Benjamin scheduled to hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
Some of the fans said that hitherto they had thought that professional wrestling bouts were staged to entertain the audience, but watching the fights live had changed their views.
They urged other wrestlers, who had benefited from the country, to emulate Ultimate Commander and support the revival of professional wrestling.
A banker, Abraham Gbadamosi, who said he had been a wrestling fan since his youth, told Tidesport soruce that because he could not get live wrestling to watch, he had resorted to watching them on television.
According to him, watching wrestling live gives him a lot of pleasure and this prompted him to bring his children to experience what they watch on television.
He urged governments and corporate bodies to rally round professional wrestlers like De Ultimate Commander to revive the sport. “I think we should commend Ultimate Commander for bringing world wrestlers to Nigeria in his bid to bring back the good old days of professional wrestling; others should emulate him,’’ Gbadamosi said.
Bukola Arowojobe, a fashion designer, said that when she heard about the championship, she thought it was a hoax.
“Until I got here and saw all these world wrestlers, I did not believe,’’ Arowojobe said.
She, however, wondered why no female wrestlers were featured in the championship, saying that female wrestlers should be given equal opportunity to exhibit their talents.
Kareem Salami, a sports lover, said that sports generally was on the decline in the country, adding that a lot more needed to be done to improve all sports.
He appealed to governments at all levels to shift focus from football and give other sports adequate attention.
“Sport is a lucrative business in other countries but people administering sports in Nigeria do not see it that way and that is why we are not reaping from the gold mine,’’ he said.
About 15 foreign and 13 African wrestlers took part in the championship, which was promoted by Universal Promotional Wrestling Federations (UPWF) in conjunction with The Ultimate Wrestling and Charity Organisation (TUWCO).
In one of the bouts, Reinforcer of USA, weighing 131.9 kg, defeated compatriot, Maximus Fury, 83.91kg; while Jimmy Palm (85 kg) of Nigeria also defeated his Nigerian counterpart, Black Heritage (85 kg).
In the tag team matches, Golden Twins of Congo DR (400 kg) defeated Nigerian Ring Riders (400 kg), while Shelton Benjamin and Val Venis (113.3 kg) USA, defeated Nigeria’s Ultimate Commander and Slam Shady (113.8 kg) of the USA.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”