‘I’m Nigeria’s Boxing King,’ Edo Boy Boasts Ahead Of GOtv Boxing Night

New boxing rave, Stanley ‘Edo Boy’ Eribo, has declared himself the best boxer in the country. Eribo, a professional lightweight boxer who knocked out Isiaka ‘Easy Lion’ Yusuf in the fourth of their eight-round national challenge contest at the GOtv Boxing Night in October, said he is sure of winning the national title when he fights for it.

“I am the best boxer in my category as well as the best boxer in the country. I am ready to claim the national title and see nobody in my category who can stop me,” he raved.

Edo Boy, 26, weighs 64kg and has a reach of 27cm, has fought 12 times, winning all with six via knockout. As an amateur, he had 10 fights, winning seven and losing three.

Stanley -Edo Boy- Eribo

“My record as a pro is intimidating. The record intimidates my opponents. I will defeat my next opponent for the people of Edo State and Governor Adams Oshiomhole,” said the boxer who is billed to fight at the GOtv Boxing Night on 26 December at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Ahead Of Okpekpe Race: Commercial Activities Pickup

Few days to the Okpekpe International 10 kilometres road race, commercial activities in the community and its environs has picked up.

In Auchi, most of hotels that will host the athletes, officials and other guests for the one-day event are wearing a new look, while others are expanding their facilities to accommodate more guests. Also, makeshift stores are being erected along the race route.

Already, the roads leading to the mountainous town of Okpekpe are now busy with athletes from neigbouring states training hard for the race.

Some athletes said they started training early in order to be in shape not just to win the state prize, but the star prize of $20,000.

OKPEKPE ROAD RACE MOC BEGINS FINAL COUNTDOWN

…Storms Okpekpe for pre-race checks

The main organising committee for the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race has begun the final countdown for the IAAF bronze label race scheduled to hold in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo state on the 16th of next month.

Disclosing this to the media on Monday, former Nigeria track and field international and two time IAAF World championships long jump finalist (1983 & 1987) revealed that the MOC will converge on Benin on Friday before leaving for Okpekpe.

‘The final countdown is here and the MOC led by Dan Ngerem (former president of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN) will meet in Benin on Friday before leaving for Okpekpe to physically inspect the race course as well as the security,accommodation and other arrangements that bother on the technical organisation of the race,’said Ali.

‘The MOC will also check on the media arrangements for the event.The race this year will be different from the first two editions because it is now an IAAF bronze label race. This means it is one of the less than 100 races the IAAF has designated as one of the leading road races around the world in 2015.

‘This is a great honour to Nigeria and the MOC is determined to ensure it is organised in strict adherence to IAAF rules.We have successfully completed the first hurdle which bothers on the invitation of athletes classified under the international elite field. The guidelines for this requires at least four nations to be represented by runners with times faster than the IAAF’s guidelines.

‘We have secured two of the three fastest runners in the world so far this year in Kenya’s Amos Kiplimo Mitei who holds the second fastest time (27:58) over the 10km distance so far this year and is one of only two athletes to have run inside 28 minutes this year as well as Ethiopia’s Dawi Fikadu whose 28.04 minutes return is the third fastest time this year,’said Ali,also a former technical committee chairman of the AFN.

Ali is confident of a successful organisation of this year’s race and the support received from the Edo state government as well as the the various sponsors have been the driving force behind the successes recorded so far.

‘We are indeed very grateful to his excellency, the executive governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his solid support. His decision to participate in the first two editions of the race has added great value to the race,’he added and specially thanked Mike Itemuagbor,whose company, Pamodzi sports marketting owns the race for ensuring Okpekpe has not only become a household name in Nigeria and is now recognised on the map of the world but also made the whole world know that Nigeria is not only about the activities of Boko Haram.

BUHARI BOOSTS OKPEKPE RACE

Okpekpe road, Edo State

This year’s Okpekpe race has received a major boost as the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari says the opening of the Okpekpe road by the Edo State Government will boost the economy of the area.

The 10km Okpekpe race which is an IAAF bronze labeled COMPETITION is an annual marathon which attracts top athletes from across the globe.

While giving his support for the race when he commissioned the road recently, the President-elect said, “A road like this Okpekpe road will boost the economy and it is something that only government can provide as has been done by the Edo State Government.

President-elect, Maj.-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (left) commissions the Okpekpe road, with him is Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (middle) and Prince Tony Momoh, one-time Minister of Information.

“There is no doubt that this road will give accessibility to this community. Projects like this is a testimony of the huge level thinking of the APC and how the APC government will transform the country for good”.

On his part, Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said, “I feel fulfilled that God has used us to make a difference in the lives of very ordinary people. We are convinced that rural Nigerians should benefit from development”.

Okpekpe Road Race: Monarch Urges Investment In Tourism

His Royal Highness (HRH) Apa Peter Osigbemeh, Onwueweko of Okpekpe kingdom yesterday called on investors to take advantage of the thriving 10 kilometres road race in the community to invest in guesthouse accommodations
and tourism.

Since the maiden edition of the Okpekpe 10 kilometres Road Race brought the community into the limelight in 2013, it has not ceased being in the news.

Stories about the community have become legendary that tourists from far and near come there for site seeing . Some come on a mission to confirm whether Okpekpe is a myth or a living legendary home to people.

Osigbemeh noted that although all investors have the opportunity to invest in hotel accommodations in Okpekpe, the pioneer investors will make a fortune from the retinue of visitors.

His words: “I am very grateful to the Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Mike Itemuagbor, who have lifted Okpekpe to prominence with the this annual road race.

“However, from the previous tournaments, it is obvious that travelers that come during and after the event would have loved to spend longer time in my kingdom end leaving in a hurry due to them lack of hotel accommadtions.

I want to assure investors that if they invest in hotel accommodations and tourism in Okpekpe they will make appreciable profit from the risk.”

Speaking further monarch said: “Expectedly it is boosting tourism in the community, but the Okpekpe 10 kilometres race is yet to give my community the much awaited commercial advantage owing to the absence of hotels in Okpekpe. By and large, Okpekpe 10 kilometres race has enriched hoteliers in Auchi and its environs.”

Osigbemeh also said that since the institution of the road race, it has been attracting national and international competitors.

According to him, it has placed the kingdom on the international map, finally the monarch said that “Okpekpe 10km race has also exposed the community hitherto unheard of before to tremendous publicity.”

Edo Media Practitioners Hail Minister Over Omorodion appointment…

Edo Media Practitioners Hail Minister Over Omorodion…Praise Oshiomhole, Itemuagbor Over Okpekpe Race…Sympathy Over Pa Itemuagbor’s Death

The umbrella body of Edo sports journalists in the country, under the aegis of Edo Sports Media Practitioners, have been reviewing its recent activities, with the leadership of the body saying that Nigerian sports may after all be on the right path under new Sports Minister Tamuno Danagogo.

A statement issued Friday by the body’s Chairman Osaretin Emuzie and Secretary Smarts Ebhodaghe, said it was particularly thrilled with the appointment of one of its members, Patrick Omorodion of the Vanguard Newspapers as the new Special Adviser to the Sports Minister. “Omorodion has been a shinning light in sports journalism in Nigeria and it took a discerning Minister to pick him out of the glut of sports journalists in the country. Minister, we can assure you as a body that the Omorodion we know will not fail you and the nation. Most importantly, you have a man who will tell you the true state of affairs in Nigerian sports only for the betterment of the system”, the statement declared.

The ESMP, also took time off to praise Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over his fresh strides in sports through the 10km Okpekpe race. The initiator of the race, Mr Mike Itemuagbor also received plaudits for his heroics, with the body hoping that the international athletics body, IAAF, will quickly grant the race the much desired gold status.

“Apart from his giant strides in infrastructural development, Governor Oshiomhole is also demonstrating a rare taste for sporting excellence through his support for the internationally acclaimed Okpekpe race and his drive to bring back the glory days of Bendel Insurance FC”, the statement further added.

“For Mike Itemuagbor, we have always known him as a man of excellence and we are not surprised that he initiated this wonderful testimonial of the abilities and potentials of the average Edo man”.

The statement finally commiserated with Itemuagbor over the passage of his father, Chief Pius Itemuagbor, who died at the age of 94, two days after the last Okpekpe race. “We know he died a fulfilled man and we cannot but pray God to grant his soul eternal rest”.

Itemuagbor, Others Get Govt, Edo FA Plaudits

After the successful hosting of the second 10km Okpekpe race, which will soon get IAAF Golden rating, Edo Football Association have become the first to recognize one its own and initiator of the programme, and a the Honorary Adviser to Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Sports, Mr Mike Itemuagbor. Itemuagbor, was given a gold plated plaque for his efforts so far, even as the FA say they expect more from their great son.

The Edo State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Mobilisation, Hon Chris Okaeben has also spoken favourably of Edo Sports, the FA and plans to reposition the state away from the current manner where thuggery and other anti-sports activities which he said are the order of the day.

“We must be civil and take sports as entertainment not quarrel or fight every time we have a match at the Ogbe Stadium, there must be a winner and a loser or at worst a drawn game. We want to attract sponsorship and the current attitude will not help us”, Okaeben said at the closing ceremony of the Edo FA Cup, which was won 1-0 by Bendel Insurance over Dynamite Force FC also of Benin City.

At the occasion proper, few Edo indigenes who have contributed to sports development and football were awarded honorary plaques. Among them was the Sports Commissioner Hon Okaeben, Mr Mike Itemuagbor, an established sports marketing guru, for his outstanding role in Edo and Nigerian sports development, Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pro Julius Ihonvbere, and one time Green Eagles top striker, Emmanuel Obasuyi alias Shakara, who recently retired as Head Coach of Edo FA and Barr BE Onuwabhagbe as well and Coach Solomon Ogbeide.

Edo FA Chairman, High Chief Abel Ehigie, abley assisted by his vice, Frank Ilaboya, assured that Edo FA, will surely bring back the glory days of football through adequate partnership with government and the private sector. The highly entertaining Edo Fed Cup final was watched by a sizeable crowd with Governor Oshiomhole represented by state SSG, Prof Ihonvbere.