All is now set for the inaugural South East Zonal Junior Wrestling Championship for both male and female athletes, scheduled to hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Sports Stadium, Enugu, from July 2 to 4, 2025. However, the organizers have raised concerns over the continued marginalization of wrestling in Nigeria.
The event, fully sponsored and organized by the Veterans Wrestlers Association of Nigeria, aims to revive interest in wrestling across the South East region.
Speaking to sports journalists over the weekend in Enugu, former World Wrestling Champion and global President of the Veterans Wrestlers Association, Morris Atula, said the tournament was born out of a desire to reawaken passion for the sport in the region, which has long been sidelined.
“We are in Enugu for the South East Zonal Junior Male and Female Wrestling Championship from July 2 to 4, 2025. Our goal is to promote wrestling across Nigeria. We expect full participation from all five South Eastern states—Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, and the host state, Enugu,” Atula stated.
He emphasized that the championship is designed to achieve three key objectives:
1. Talent Discovery – Identifying young wrestlers to feed into state and national teams.
2. Support to Government – Complementing the government’s efforts in developing sports.
3. Advocacy for Infrastructure – Urging authorities to provide basic wrestling facilities across states.
“The Veterans Wrestlers Association took it upon itself to sponsor this initiative to demonstrate our commitment and to show that we are working in partnership with government. All we ask in return is for states to provide the necessary facilities to grow the sport,” Atula added.
He lamented the state of wrestling infrastructure in Nigeria, pointing out that more than 90 percent of states lack even a standard wrestling mat. “It’s like asking footballers to play on concrete. Without proper facilities, how can athletes hone their skills?”
Atula thanked the Enugu State Government for its administrative support in providing a venue for the championship and called on other states to invest in wrestling for the benefit of their youth.
“This is a call to action for state governments across Nigeria to begin promoting wrestling by making training facilities available, so young talents have a place to grow,” he said.
Highlighting the long-standing neglect of the sport, Atula noted that no zonal championship has been held in Nigeria for the past 12 to 15 years, except in Bayelsa, which has occasionally hosted limited events.
He urged sports administrators nationwide to give wrestling the attention it deserves, warning that the overemphasis on football may not always yield desired results in international competitions.
