By Dada Ahmed.
In Nigeria, the culture has traditionally focused on eulogizing fallen heroes who made significant contributions to history of development of their father land before their passage.
Such eulogy often highlight supreme sacrifices, such as those made by military personnel for peace.
However, living heroes who continue these efforts and make outstanding contributions receive little recognition. This is the challenge faced by one coach in Kogi State.
For those unfamiliar with Kogi State’s sports scene, the impact of local athletes, particularly in wrestling, might not be immediately evident. Kogi, being relatively young, compared to states with well-established sports history such as Lagos, Rivers, Edo, and Delta, might not have garnered the same level of recognition in national sports festivals.
Nevertheless, empirical evidence shows that Kogi has produced athletes who have made notable contributions to wrestling on both national and international stages. A prime example is Mozi Ikutemi, commonly known as Coach Mozi.
Born on January 1, 1965, in Okengwe, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Ikutemi Moses began his education at Native Authority School,Okengwe in 1974 and later attended Jos Township College, formerly known as Wash College, in the 1978.
In 1980, Mozi joined the Bauchi Sports Council and made his wrestling debut at the National Sports Festival in Bendel 1981 representing Bauchi state then,where he earned a bronze medal in amateur wrestling.
At Senior Rotational wrestling championship in Bauchi in 1981,he won bronze, Folawiyo wrestling championship in Badagry,Lagos.
Mozi’s performance at the National Senior Wrestling Championship in Bauchi was so outstanding that he won a silver medal, which led to his selection for the national camp in Lagos to prepare for the 1983 Commonwealth Games, this time as a training partner. During his time in Lagos, he was introduced to Coach Balofin, a weightlifting coach from Kwara State, who invited him to further his wrestling career in Kwara state. In kwara, he met Black Sadula, a prominent wrestling coach, and began working as both a coach and an athlete.
Coach Mozi, who is known as the Golden Lion of Africa in his hit days in wrestling, was in Bauchi for professional world light heavy weight champion for support for Micheal Bamidele, a national coach in wrestling who defended his
He participated in non-title matches in Kwara, supporting well-known wrestlers such as Lady Queen and Ring Marshal.
In kwara he played a supporting bout to African Tiger, Michael Hayes, Big Foot, Ox Baker, New Maskara and Armstrong and Black Sadula among other great wrestlers in world heavy weight champion.
In 1993, Moses competed 62kg in the Intercontinental Wrestling Championship in Okene and won the title of the Intercontinental light heavy weight championship in September.
This championship featured renowned wrestlers like Abbey City, Black Sadula, Serg Slaughter, Sunny Wonder, Proven Mohammed, and Ring Marshal.
He successfully defended his Intercontinental light heavy weight champion in Togo by defeat Tang city at Togolese Professional Wrestling Championship in Togo , December 1993.
Earlier in Lokoja in 1992,he also won in non title bout.
His achievements led him to pick a role as an amateur wrestling coach in Kogi State, where he, alongside with Abdullahi Shaibu (Black Sadula), Phillip Momoh, and Ojo John, trained wrestlers who achieved significant success in various national sports festivals and some trailed blaze outside Nigeria. Notably, under his coaching, wrestlers such as Peter and Josephine won gold medals at the national sports festivals.
Mozi has also played a crucial role in the success of over 200 gold, silver and bronze medalists from Kogi State in wrestling in various national and international competitions. Despite his outstanding achievements in wrestling Coach retired from the Kogi State government service as wrestling coach in 2020.
Despite managing a left knee injury sustained during his wrestling career, Mozi says he remains committed to coaching and will honour any offer by the state government to offer his valuable experience to aspiring wrestlers in the state.
According to him,he has made numerous attempts to persuade public officials to secure their nod to revive wrestling in Kogi to enviable status but this has not yielded any positive results due to continued red tapism challenges.
Sports enthusiasts also argue that if current and retired wrestling coaches collaborate to revive the sport, it will ensure social unity and economic development in Kogi State. Leveraging the expertise of various retired but still active coaches will benefit the state and help it regain its former glory.
They further argue that reviving wrestling championships could strengthen social cohesion among diverse ethnic groups and boost economic prosperity in the state.
Keen watchers of sports issues in the state opine that with appropriate support from the state government,veteran coaches like Mozi can promote local wrestling as a sport by organizing tournaments and training programmes that will engage youths and foster community spirit.
Moreso, establishing wrestling academy and partnering with local businesses can also create job opportunities, reduce crime as many youths will be engaged in sports while kogi state economy will be stimulated to greater heights.
Retired coaches with their outreach during their active days in sports can help government make contact with colleagues outside the state to attract sponsorships in wrestling which will attract media attention.
With media space occupied with such spotting activities ,this will draw the attention of the world to the abundant tourism potential of kogi and the attendant boost in investment of various human and natural resources of the state with multiplier effect on the revenue profile.
This invariably will enhance effort of the state government in extending the dividends of democracy to the larger spectrum of the population in the state.
Sports enthusiasts also argue that when current and retired coaches in wrestling combine efforts to revive wrestling as a sport to reckon with, social unity and economic development of Kogi State with be assured.
The public sector leverage on the expertise of various retired but not tired coaches, especially in wrestling, will benefit the state and ensure it falls back to the path of glory in sports generally.
Coach Mozi is an experience wrestling coach whose expertise could greatly benefit the State Ministry of Sports in its efforts to invigorate sports development, particularly in wrestling.
Coach Mozi’s narrative typifies those of his colleagues who have the burning desire to offer more services to groom in coming sports men and women for laurels and honors in national and international sport festivals and for better future for athletes .
This patriotic service these coaches feel they can give as part of their effort in paying back to the society,even as senior citizens, for their father land.
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Ahmed publishes The Reporters.
