My Coach Was Raining Abusive Words On Me. Owo- Iya, Says

A Lagos State  middle weight boxer, Owo-Iya Ibrahim, has attributed his defeat to Masebinu Adewale of Ekiti in the 75 kilogramme decided Sunday at the Nationa Institute for Sports. Gymnasium Complex, to abusive words from the Head Coach of the Lagos State Amaetuer Boxing Association, Wasiu Bisiriyu.

Ibrahim, who won his first fight in the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival tagged EKO 2012 Games, said he was leading by 3 points to One when his coach Bisiriyu at the end of second round approached and was raining series abusive words on him that affected his psyche despite the fact that he was leading on points, adding that his coach unprofessional attitude distracted him and pave the way for his opponents to win the bout, 4- 3.

According to him, the coach was too harsh on him when he instructed him to changee his style of boxing in a bid to have comfortable lead over his opponents, a move he declined to subscribe to because Masebinu Adewale of Ekiti State had a powerful punches and any move to change his style of fighting could jeopardize his quest of wining a Gold medal at stake in his category.

While comparing the coach to the former handler, Obafemi Babafemi, Owo-iya, said the former coach was a professional coach who would gear an athlete to victory event when a boxer is lossing vital bout, stressing that the coach advised him to stop a fight at the semi final stage of a boxing event at the Garden City Games because his opponent was landing powerful punches on him and in a bid to face him from technical knock out, Babafemi advised him not to fight again but he insisted and he lost the bout.

In his reaction, the Head Coach of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, Wasiu Bisiriyu, denied making any derogatory comment that could affect or demoralize Owo - Iya from wining his second fight against Masebinu Adewale, stressing that he only advised him not o loss focus of sustaining his point.

He said Owo- Iya was picked ahead of other boxers in the middle weight category following his outstanding performance at the trials conducted to select the best for the EKO 2012 Games, adding that the association would dump him to look for another boxer in the 75 kilogramme.

The coach whose two female and one male boxers had been eliminated out of the contest, said the association technical committee was still confident that the remaining Nine boxers would still make the state proud.

Meanwhile, Olaide Fijabi, has continued to live up to expectations as he won his second bout against Yusuf Mufutau of Ekiti State by 5 points to 2 in the preliminary round.