BYJACOB AJOM
Team Lagos preparations for the fast-approaching National Sports Festival, Eko 2012 suffered a setback last week when the head coach of the boxing team, Victor Enyika died. Indeed, the boxing community in Lagos is still shocked over the development.

Secretary of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, Adejunwo Adesoye said Enyika who died after a brief illness had been a key figure in the quiet revolution the sport was experiencing in the state.

“He lived, boxed in Lagos and represented the state and country honourably. Victor was a gem in his chosen career and we will remember him always as a patriot and good man,” Adesoye said in a chat with Sports Vanguard.

He eulogized Enyika as “a well known champion in the state and our chief coach, we will miss him.”

On his part, acting chief coach of the boxing team, Wasiu Bisiriyu said, “Enyika was a very nice person and a champion of repute who captained the national boxing team in 1985 and ’87. As a coach, he also distinguished himself. He designed the programme we are executing now ahead of the Sports festival. We will surely miss him.The remains of the late former head coach had already been taken to Umuahia by the family. He  will  be laid to rest in his home town, Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State at a later date to be decided by the family.

The Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association scribe said although the Sports Council was responsible for the transportation of the body to Umuahia, the family will be briefing the council hierarchy this morning on the final burial arrangements.